Roper v. State

CARLEY, Justice.

Joseph Roper was tried before a jury on a felony murder count, which alleged that he was a convicted felon and that he had killed Donald Smith while possessing a firearm in violation of OCGA § 16-11-131. He did not deny firing the fatal shots, but he claimed justification as his sole defense. However, the jury returned a guilty verdict, and the trial court imposed a life sentence. Thereafter, new appellate counsel filed a motion for new trial which raised, among other grounds, the ineffectiveness of trial counsel. The trial court denied the motion for new trial, and Roper…