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Gwinnett Daily Post SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016
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Vol. 46, No. 84
Leili found guilty, sentenced to life By Joshua Sharpe
joshua.sharpe @gwinnettdailypost.com
LAWRENCEVILLE — Matthew Leili’s face was grave as one by one the jurors confirmed they’d found him guilty of his late wife’s murder. The jury returned the verdict after about three hours Friday afternoon. Nique’s loved ones came armed with statements to
read about the pain the man had caused, the fractures in their family, and, as one put it, Matthew Leili how Matthew “brainwashed” his teen daughters. “My Nique will always be in my heart,” mother Harriett Garrett said, recalling how they
used to laugh and quote the movie “Steel Magnolias.” Father Doug Chatham told the judge of void left in the family, concluding: “Although it’s politically correct to forgive, I do not offer any forgiveness for this.” Asked if he’d like to speak, the freshly convicted killer, 48, glanced up from the table and
Amy Robinson, center, is overcome Friday as her former brother-inlaw is found guilty in the death of her sister, Nique Leili. (Staff Photo: Joshua Sharpe)
See LEILI, Page 9A
Officials say recent clogs preventable County urges more resident awareness about stormwater By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com
Richard Tucker addresses the audience after winning the Citizen of the Year Award during the Gwinnett Chamber’s 68th Annual Dinner Friday night at the Infinite Energy Forum in Duluth. (Photos: Karl L. Moore)
Community leader
Richard Tucker named Chamber’s Citizen of the Year
By Curt Yeomans
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curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com
Richard Tucker came to Gwinnett County nearly 44 years ago, and has been involved with the Gwinnett Chamber for much of that time, giving him a chance to see nearly every person who has ever received its Citizen of the Year Award. There was D. Scott Hudgens Jr. in 1986, Louise Radloff in 1989, Connie Wiggins in 1993, Wayne Mason in 1999, Wayne Shackleford in 2000, Wayne Hill in 2003, J. Alvin Wilbanks in 2004 and Lillian Webb in 2013. Tucker joined that list at the chamber’s Annual Dinner on Friday night at the Infinite Energy Center. While he was watching all of those previous winners receive their awards,
Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for a photo gallery from the event.
wanee, was cited at the dinner for his long list of contributions to the county and Georgia. Over that time, he has built relationships with officials, not just across the county, but across the state. Those relationships were highlighted when Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle joked at the beginning of the dinner that he was at the event because “there is going Daniel Kaufman welcomes guests to the Gwinnett Chamber’s to be a floor challenge brought 68th Annual Dinner Friday night at the Infinite Energy Forum in forth tonight on the Citizen of the Year Award” later on when it Duluth. came time to present the award. though, he never gave it much winners who have done a lot “I hope no one will do that thought that his name would for this county and this commu- (because) Richard Tucker is someday be mentioned among nity,” he said. “To be included a very good friend of mine,” that group. among them is just a great Cagle said. “It’s very humbling because honor.” See CHAMBER, Page 9A there’s been some tremendous Tucker, who lives in Su-
In the span of nine days since late January, a trio of grease clogs caused about 23,400 gallons of wastewater sewage to overflow from manholes and spill into waterways in three Gwinnett County communities. That equates to nearly 7.5 percent of all of the 312,845 gallons of sewage that spilled in the county, from any cause, in all of 2015. It’s a small drop in the bucket when looked at within the context that the county treats 53 million gallons of sewage every day, but its a small drop that county officials say could be avoided through preventative measures taken by residents. “If it goes into a stream, it has an impact, and we want to stop it as soon as possible,” Department of Water Resources Director Tyler Richards said. The three grease clog-caused spills were among five spills that occurred since Jan. 25, which is about one-fifth of the total average number of spills county officials estimate they see on an annual basis. Amid the rash of grease clog-caused spills, though, county officials said there is a need for residents to be aware of the dangers of pouring the cooking agent into the wastewater system. It causes about 50 percent of the clog-related wastewater
See SPILLS, Page 9A
AT A GLANCE Below is a FOG (fats, oils and grease) prevention checklist. Follow these simple practices for food prep and cleanup: • Pour liquid food scraps into a container and place in a trash can. • Pour used oil into a container with a top so it can be reused, recycled or placed in the trash. • Pour cool grease into a grease can or other container for disposal and/or absorb with paper towels or newspaper. • Use mesh drain strainers to catch solid food scraps for disposal in a trash can. • Scrape plates over the trash can or drywipe with a paper towel. Source: Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources
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