Gibbs v. Georgia
Annotate this CaseAppellant Rodney Gibbs was convicted of the felony murder of Marquis Stephens, the aggravated assaults of six other people, and numerous other crimes, all in connection with a shooting at a house party in 2015. Following the trial court’s denial of his motion for new trial, Gibbs appealed, arguing only that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Gibbs’ theory of defense at trial was that he and Reeves acted in self-defense after Stephens withdrew his weapon and fired first; Gibbs also called the victims’ credibility into question by casting them as drug dealers and drug users. Gibbs did not testify or put on any evidence in support of his defense. The parties stipulated that Gibbs was a convicted felon at the time of the incident, having previously been convicted of a felony involving the use of a firearm. As for the convictions for felony murder and aggravated assault, Gibbs argues, as he did below, that the incident was the result of a drug deal gone awry and that he shot Stephens in self- defense. Finding no reversible error, and that the evidence presented was sufficient to sustain his convictions, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed Gibbs' convictions.
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