Attorneys in the double homicide case of Michael Jason Registe argued Tuesday before the Georgia Supreme Court.
Defense attorney Amy Walters and prosecutor Laura Murphree argued about whether Stacey Jackson, who was a prosecutor in 2007 when two Hardaway High School students were fatally shot, can represent the 27-year-old.
“A few of the justices had pointed questions about the facts, but nothing that wasn’t already drawn out,” Jackson said.
Registe is charged in the July 20, 2007, execution-style slayings of Randy Newton Jr., 21, and Bryan Kilgore, 20. Registe, who was indicted Aug. 26, 2008, was detained the next day on the island of St. Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles. He was returned to Columbus on July 23, 2009.
Jackson appeared as Registe’s defense counsel on Aug. 4. A special prosecutor said Jackson had a conflict of interest, having served as an assistant district attorney from August 2000 through July 2008, after which he went into private practice with the Columbus firm of Hagler, Henderson, Jackson & Walters.
Jackson said Richard Hagler and Walters were with him in Atlanta on Tuesday for the hearing.
Superior Court Judge Doug Pullen ruled that Jackson would be removed from the case, and Registe appealed the ruling in October.
Jackson said at issue is whether his involvement as a prosecutor in helping obtain warrants for phone records for a U.S. marshal was “substantial” involvement in the case.
“That’s really just the crux,” Jackson said. “The problem is always then in these cases — what is substantial?”
It’s unknown when the high court will make its decision.
E-Mail
Print
