Georgia high court reinstates death sentence
The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday reinstated a death sentence given to Brian Keith Terrell, who killed a 70-year-old Newton County man in 1992.
In a unanimous decision, the court reversed a lower-court judge's ruling that Terrell's death sentence should be set aside because his lawyers provided ineffective assistance of counsel.
According to prosecutors, John Watson, who was a friend of Terrell's mother, found out on June 20, 1992, that Terrell had stolen 10 of his checks and began using them. Instead of pressing charges, Watson told Terrell to repay him a significant portion of the stolen money within two days.
On the day the payment was due, Terrell shot Watson four times as the elderly man headed to his truck to go get kidney dialysis treatment. After dragging Watson across the lawn to a secluded area, Terrell beat Watson on the face and head, breaking bones in his jaw, nose, cheek and eyesocket, according to testimony.
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.
