Jury selection begins Monday for the murder trial of Victoria Rickman, an East Atlanta woman accused of shooting her ex-fiancé in the back at least 10 times.

Rickman's case, which was once featured in a TV show on Investigation Discovery, has drawn attention for her defense: she told police she killed William Carter, Jr., on Sept. 13, 2013, because he'd raped her and she feared he was coming back for more.

Also, the murder weapon belonged to a Cobb County sheriff's deputy, who was reportedly a friend of Rickman. The deputy was fired after refusing to cooperate with investigators, authorities have said.

The shooting happened at Rickman's DeKalb County home on Clifton Road, in a part of the city of Atlanta that's outside of Fulton County.

Authorities acknowledged the volatile relationship between Rickman and Carter — both have been charged with attacking the other — but investigators don't believe Rickman was justified.

A prosecutor said in a 2013 bond hearing there was "no evidence whatsoever that this has anything to do with anything other than Ms. Rickman loading a gun, shooting and killing William Carter, reloading that gun and continuing to shoot Mr. Carter."

Sympathy for Rickman has led to an online petition and Facebook page demanding "justice" for her.

Rickman has remained in jail without bond.

Like DeKalb County News Now on Facebook | Follow on Twitter and Instagram

loverkill

About the Author

Keep Reading

The city of Atlanta will be able to keep its 81 polling locations open until 8 p.m. Tuesday after Monday's ruling by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melynee Leftridge. (John Spink/AJC 2024)

Credit: John Spink/AJC

Featured

Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez