COLUMBUS, Ga.- The murder trial for a woman in the 2021 shooting death of her husband at their Columbus apartment resumed today. The jury had 45 minutes to decide their decision after attorneys on both sides presented closing arguments on the morning of August 30.
Charise Douglas, 34, was convicted guilty of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in the fatal shooting of her 38-year-old husband of ten days, John Anthony Johnson. She faces up to 30 years in prison.
Anthony Johnson, a defense attorney, represented Douglas. In his final arguments, the defense questioned testimony provided by state witnesses. He stated that his client had never been institutionalized, as Tamas Williams, the victim’s best friend and religious counselor, told jurors the deceased had expressed to him before his death.
Earlier this week, Williams testified that Douglas’ spouse described his partner as “like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” Williams also stated that he did not know whether Johnson’s claims concerning Douglas’ mental condition were true, and that the deceased had a malformed hand.
Douglas’ lawyers claimed that her activities on the night of May 1, 2021, were not premeditated, as shown by the fact that her ID and phone charger were abandoned at the location. He claimed Douglas did not intend to kill her husband.
“The only way that Ms. Douglas is convicted in this case is if we’re sending a message that it’s okay for a woman not to defend herself,” according to Douglas’ lawyer.
Before closing comments, Superior Court Judge Boddy Peters determined that Douglas would not face a manslaughter charge.
The State’s closing arguments focused on apparent contradictions in the evidence and the defendant’s testimony. Assistant District Attorney Meghan Bowden told jurors that several of the defense’s arguments were insulting.
Although Douglas provided screenshots from April 16, 2021, of a 911 call she claimed happened in Columbus, Bowden provided emails of a conversation between Douglas and Williams that her team claimed occurred while she was in Memphis, Tenn. Bowden also noted that they were dated April 16, 2021.
Bowden also argued for premeditation, challenging the period between Douglas’ text to her sister – “I’m about to kill dude” – and the defendant’s exit from the apartment complex.
“Is this our standard in Columbus?” … Should he (Johnson) have paid with his life for wanting out of the marriage? “Your answer to that cannot be yes,” Bowden stated.
The jury agreed as they found Douglas guilty of all charges. Sentencing for the case will take place in September.