Georgia Supreme Court Grants Habeas Where Defense Counsel Failed to Understand State Self-Defense Statute Provides Complete Defense to Felony Murder Based on Felon-in-Possession Charge

by Anthony W. Accurso

The Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that self-defense is a complete defense to felony murder based on a felon-in-possession charge based on Georgia’s self-defense statute, OCGA § 16-11-138.

On the evening of September 9, 2017, Darnell Rene Floyd …