The trial of three men accused of killing a former Gwinnett County coach at a gas station last year came to an abrupt end Monday when a judge declared a mistrial following improper comments by the prosecution.
David Booker, 22, Miles Collins, 21, and Josiah Hughley, 21, were on trial for the July 2022 fatal shooting of 29-year-old Bradley Coleman.
Coleman, a father and football coach from Norcross, was putting air in his tires at a QuikTrip in Peachtree Corners when a group of men tried to steal his Dodge Charger, according to Gwinnett police. He was killed while trying to fight them off.
The trial started Thursday following three days of jury selection. After three days of testimony, the defendants moved for a mistrial “based on an improper comment made by the prosecutor, incorrectly attributing a statement to one of the defendants, implicating himself and a co-defendant,” Superior Court Judge Tamela Adkins wrote in her order granting the motion.
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
The prosecution’s exact comment was not stated in the order.
“I think the state’s comment cannot be — I can’t instruct the jury. I can’t unring the bell. I think the state’s comment was so improper and prejudicial that I’m going to have to grant a mistrial,” Adkins said in court Monday.
Prior to trial, the defendants tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to suppress statements they made to detectives following their arrest. Two requests were granted, however, and involved Booker’s responses to further questioning after asserting his right to remain silent. Those statements could not be used at trial, Adkins ruled previously.
In a statement released to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said the mistrial was declared “due to a technical issue within the legal proceedings.”
“While the district attorney’s office was against the granting of the mistrial, it was ultimately granted by the court, and we respect the decision of the court,” the statement read. “We want to assure the community that our commitment to seeking justice remains unwavering. As soon as the court’s schedule permits, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office will diligently retry this case and ensure that justice is served for the victim and his family.”
Speaking with Channel 2 Action News outside the courthouse Monday, Coleman’s mother, Venetia Coleman, said “it was an unfortunate situation that happened, but we understand that a delay is not a denial.”
Coleman was living in Louisiana at the time of his death but was in town visiting his young daughter, according to his friends and family. The Norcross High School graduate was a former football coach at Peachtree Ridge High School.
The suspects also were being tried for gang offenses, with the state alleging that the trio was part of the Bloods gang and planned to take Coleman’s vehicle by force in order to help the gang and to maintain or increase their status.
Prosecutors said they “remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice in a manner that upholds the principles of our legal system.”
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