VOLUME 22 NUMBER 34
FREE
DECEMBER 3 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Police arrest man in rape, strangulation of pregnant woman
Georgia Supreme Court overturns Burrell Ellis’ conviction By Valerie J. Morgan
reverses a criminal conviction,” said Thomas. eKalb CEO Burrell Ellis “He (Ellis) and his wife hugged his wife in an emotion- embraced. He was very al embrace after the Georgia Supreme grateful and he showed Court handed down its decision on strong faith. It was a his appeal on Nov. 30. The high court blessing, a very emounanimously overturned his conviction, tional moment.” citing “technical errors” that occurred At a news conferduring his trial. ence held on Dec. 1, The court said in a 30-page opinion Ellis thanked supportthat while there was sufficient eviers who have stood by dence to find Ellis guilty of perjury and him. attempt to commit theft by extortion, Thomas said the Burrell Ellis listens during his 2014 trial. OCG file photo “we must nevertheless reverse Ellis’ District Attorney has did find sufficiency in the evidence convictions based on certain evidentiary until Dec. 5 to file a errors that occurred at his trial. Accordmotion to retry the case again. Ellis’ first that was presented at the trial. James ingly, we affirm in part and reverse in trial ended in a mistrial on Oct. 21, 2014 further stated that although his office is part to allow for a retrial on the charges after a jury could not reach a unanimous assessing whether to file a motion for reconsideration, the decision is not his of criminal attempt to commit theft by verdict. The state retried Ellis on June to make on whether the case should be extortion and perjury.” 1, 2015 and he was found guilty of one retried. Attorney Dwight Thomas, who count of attempt to commit theft by ex“By the time the case gets back in served as an advisor to the team repretortion and three perjury accounts. Ellis DeKalb County, there will be another senting Ellis, called the decision “rare” was sentenced 18 months to serve in District Attorney sitting in the office,” and a blessing.” He said the reversal prison, but was released from prison on means Ellis, who is ae as a real estate March 1, 2016 after serving eight moths. said James. Newly-elected DeKalb District attorney, will have his license, which “I’m hoping that reason prevails Sherry Boston has refrained from comwas suspended, restored and he remains with the people who have the responsimenting on the case. the CEO of DeKalb County until Dec. bility to make the call as to whether he The high court said the trial judge 31. Lee May has been serving as Interim should be retried. It’s time for this to be made a “harmful error” in allowing a CEO and Michael Thurmond was elect- finished and I’m hoping the honorable Special Purpose Grand juror to testify at ed on Nov. 8 to take the helms on Jan. 1. thing will be done,” Thomas said. “The “Had this appeal been unfavorable District Attorney has the power to make Ellis’ trial in an effort to prove that Ellis made false statements that were key to to him then he would not be the CEO. the decision through Dec. 31.” the grand jury’s investigation. WhethBut he is in fact the CEO,” Thomas said. DeKalb District Attorney Robert er a false statement was key, however, “Essentially, every justice of the Georgia James, who spoke exclusively with On “is normally an issue for the jury,” the Supreme Court—all seven of them— Common Ground News, said while he Court said. “... This was inappropriate.” said he (Ellis) was denied a fair trial and was disappointed with the Supreme his conviction should be reversed. It is Court’s decision, he respects the ruling. rare that the Georgia Supreme Court He said it should be noted the high court See Ellis, page 3
D
Terique Hall
D
eKalb police have arrested a 24-year-old man who they say raped and strangled a pregnant woman at a DeKalb County motel. Terique Hall was charged with killing 20-year-old Ashley Mays at the Quality Inn and Suites at 3500 Snapfinger Park in Decatur. Mays’ body was discovered inside a room at the motel. Her hands and feet were reportedly bound with zip ties. The attack took place on Nov. 18, police said. Mays’ fetus did not survive, police said. Police said Hall was captured on surveillance footage leaving the motel room where the assault allegedly occurred. Images of Hall from different angles, including him wearing a dark jacket with an American flag decal across the back as he left in his car, were disseminated to the public. The victim’s family members told Channel 2 they are devastated. They said Mays already had a son and was four months pregnant with a baby girl. Mays had planned to name the baby Alani, the family said. Hall was also connected to a sexual assault that occurred in Lithonia on Nov. 11 and charged in that case. Investigators believe there could be more victims. Hall has been charged with the murder, rape and aggravated sodomy of Ashley Mays and charged with rape and aggravated sodomy in a separate sexual assault that occurred in Lithonia on Nov. 11. The Lithonia woman was bound with zip ties and raped in her home. Hall is currently being held at the DeKalb County jail. Police think there may be more victims. Anyone with information on the case is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 404577-8477.
Jason Lary announces he will run for Stonecrest mayor, city taking shape
J
ason Lary, who led the Stonecrest cityhood movement to victory, says he plans to run for mayor of the new city. Lary said that as the chief architect of the Stonecrest Yes Committee, he is ready to give birth to the vision of economic development and self-governance that he and others have worked on for so long. The referendum to create the city of 50,000 residents passed on Nov. 8 with 59 percent of the vote. “After four years of being the person who has put it together, selected the team and worked on the model for the city, I believe that I am uniquely qualified to lead the city,” Lary said. “I think I can continue to make the difference in drawing economic development for the city.” Elections are expected to be held next March. Lary, along with members of the Stonecrest Yes Committee, held a victory celebration with a crowd in attendance at the Fairfield Inn at Stonecrest on Nov. 29. Key players of the committee were introduced including Plez Joyner, who has served as vice
Jason Lary(far right) discusses how the Stoncrest Yes Committee (left) has worked over the last four years. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
chair; Joel Thibodeaux, who served as treasurer; board member Shawn Jones; and advisors Vaughn Irons and Al Franklin. Judge Ron Ramsey, who initially sponsored the bill for the Stonecrest cityhood as a state senator, and Oliver Porter, who worked on the Sandy Springs cityhood, also were among those introduced Lary said even a community transition team or sorts is in place, Gov. Nathan Deal he is taking recommendations for the formal City of
Stonecrest’s five-member commission. A five-member commission for the new city of South Fulton also is under way. “We are looking for community members to help shape the formation of the City of South Fulton and the City of Stonecrest,” said Deal. “As we continue to work with the General Assembly to form these commissions, See City of Stonecrest, page 5