Richard Gonnella to Get a New Trial

Richard Gonnella

Richard Anthony Gonnella was convicted of the 2002 execution-style murder of James Henry Williams back in 2005. That conviction has now been overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court because they say that prosecutors failed to disclose the fact that their key witness had worked out a plea deal to reduce his sentence.

According to prosecutors the evidence showed that Gonnella and Christopher Eric Evans went to James Williams’ apartment and as Evans was waiting in the car he heard gunshots. Both men later turned themselves in and Evans told police where they could find the gun. Evans ended up being sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Gonnella was sentenced to life in prison for Felony Murder.

The Georgia Supreme Court stated that prosecutors deprived Gonnella of the ability to impeach Evans’ testimony.

Christopher Evans

I understand the need to keep the justice system working correctly in order to make sure it’s above reproach but this just seems like a waste of my money as a taxpayer. An obviously guilty man will get another trial and while he will most likely be found guilty again there is always the chance he will walk free.