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.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres