In the case of State vs. William Marcus Wilson, a jury has found Marcus “Marc” Wilson guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Haley Hutcheson. Wilson was found not guilty on all other charges, including felony murder and five counts of aggravated assault.
Jury selection in the trial began on Monday, August 22, and arguments began on Wednesday, August 24. Both the prosecution and defense rested by Tuesday, August 29. Closing arguments began on Wednesday, August 30, and the jury officially began deliberations around 2pm that same day. They returned a verdict shortly after 1pm on August 31.
Sentencing will take place on September 20 at 2pm. According to O.C.G.A. 16-5-3 (2019), in Georgia, the punishment for involuntary manslaughter is imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years.
Wilson, now 23, was charged in the death of 17-year-old Hutcheson of Claxton after a shooting incident on Veterans Memorial Parkway during the night of June 13-14, 2020. Wilson turned himself in to police on June 16, 2020.
While Wilson did not testify during the trial, his legal team maintained that he acted in self-defense after the occupants of the truck in which Hutcheson was a passenger threatened him and his girlfriend with their vehicle after making racially-charged comments.
In an often emotional courtroom, witnesses from both sides testified over the course of the weeklong trial. Several community groups provided live updates on Twitter and Facebook throughout the proceedings.
Wilson was represented by attorneys Francys Johnson, Martha Hall, Mawuli Davis, and Nefertara Clark.
Assistant District Attorney Barclay Black of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit led the prosecution, with Judge Ronnie Thompson presiding.
Grice Connect's previous coverage of the case:
June 17, 2020 Arrest in Haley Hutcheson homicide investigation
July 7, 2020 COVID-19 positive witnesses shuts down bond hearing and courthouse annex
July 10, 2020 Heavy police presence on the east side of Statesboro this morning
August 17, 2020 Watch Marcus Wilson hearing live
August 18, 2020 LIVE FEED of Marcus Wilson first appearance hearing
March 5, 2022 Marcus Wilson released from Bulloch County jail after 21 months