Murder conviction upheld

Published 1:58 pm Monday, May 9, 2016

PHIRRONNIUS EDWARDS2.jpg

ATLANTA — The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the life sentence of a man convicted of killing a Moultrie man in 2011.

Phirronnius Edwards, of Pelham, was convicted in 2012 of felony murder and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime. Superior Court Judge  James E. Hardy sentenced him to a life sentence, under which he will not be eligible for parole until serving 30 years in the state prison system.

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The state Supreme Court upheld that conviction and sentence, according to a summary opinion released Monday.

A second defendant, Michael Jamar Russell, of Camilla, pleaded guilty to armed robbery in the case and a murder charge against him was dropped in exchange for his testimony against Edwards.

The two men were accused of following Billy Hewitt home from work Sept. 23, 2011, in an attempt to rob him. In the ensuing incident, the 29-year-old Hewitt was fatally shot outside his 29th Avenue Northwest residence.

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