Jones v. State

Weltner, Justice.

Johnnie Dee Jones was convicted of murder in the stabbing of Randall Garvin Reeves. He was sentenced to death.1

1. (a) Jones claims error in the trial court’s failure to grant his motion for a change of venue on the ground of excessive pre-trial publicity. In Berryhill v. State, 249 Ga. 442 (291 SE2d 685) (1982), we affirmed the trial court’s denial of the motion for the change of venue. We held:

Both this court and the Supreme Court of the United States have considered the “small-town syndrome” before. [Cit.] A serious case draws public attention, and hardly any prospective…