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.