State v. Mobley

Blackwell, Justice.

Ricci Mobley was tried by a Fulton County jury and convicted of murder and several other crimes, all in connection with the killing of Bryan Tinch. On a motion for new trial, however, the trial court set aside those convictions, reasoning that Mobley was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial when his lawyers asked successfully for a jury charge on mutual combat, a charge that impaired his defense of justification. The State appeals, and we conclude that Mobley is not entitled to a new trial upon this ground. Accordingly, we reverse the order awarding a new…