Court upholds Cobb murder conviction
The Georgia Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Cobb County murder conviction against Lester James Smith Jr. for killing 17-year-old Joel Andresen in June 2008.
Smith had told police that Andresen, while selling him marijuana in a church parking lot, pulled out a gun and tried to rob Smith, and the pistol discharged during a struggle. The Supreme Court ruled the trial judge did not give an improper jury instruction when he said Smith could not be found justified in using force if he was in the process of committing a felony -- trying to buy marijuana.
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
