SANDERSVILLE, Ga. (AP) — In a high-profile case that has drawn national attention, a jury has found three former Georgia sheriff’s deputies not guilty of murder in the death of Eurie Martin, a Black man whose request for water while walking through a small town led to a fatal confrontation.
Eurie Martin, 58, was repeatedly Tasered by deputies Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell, and Rhett Scott after they accused him of walking illegally in the road and littering by dropping a soda can. The encounter escalated when Martin allegedly refused to follow their commands.
The verdicts late Thursday also cleared all three men of aggravated assault charges, with Scott being acquitted on all counts, while juries could not decide on involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct charges against Copeland and Howell. This trial marks the culmination of eight years of legal proceedings, including a previous mistrial in 2021.
“We’re elated,” said Karen Scott, the mother of Deputy Rhett Scott. “Our family is thankful for the verdict, but we also think about the Martin family and their loss.”
The possibility of a third trial for Copeland and Howell remains uncertain as prosecutors evaluate their next steps. Meanwhile, the family of Eurie Martin has not given up hope; civil rights attorney Francys Johnson continues to pursue a federal lawsuit on their behalf, highlighting the circumstances surrounding Martin’s death as emblematic of systemic issues in law enforcement.
Martin's sister, Helen Gilbert, expressed deep disappointment following the not-guilty verdict, reflecting the ongoing pain felt by the Martin family. “After eight long years, I’m just very disappointed,” she stated.
On that fateful day in July 2017, Martin was seen walking through the town of Deepstep in sweltering heat, traveling approximately 30 miles to visit relatives for his birthday. Testimonies revealed that he was dehydrated and had pre-existing health conditions, making the encounter highly troubling.
Eyewitness accounts, including that of a homeowner who reported Martin, highlighted racial and societal biases at play. The homeowner described Martin as a “rough-looking character,” suggesting a perception shaped by bias, which appeared to influence the deputies' response.
During the confrontation, deputies deployed Tasers on the 58-year-old man at least 15 times, leading to his death. An autopsy confirmed the cause as homicide. The Washington County sheriff subsequently terminated all three deputies involved.
The defense argued that their actions were justified under the premise of enforcing law and order, while the prosecution described the rationale for the Taser use as absurd. “People should not be killed for littering or for walking in the street,” Prosecutor George Lipscomb told jurors in closing arguments, making clear the societal implications of the verdict.
The community and family are left grappling with the outcomes of the trial and the deeply rooted issues of race and policing that this case has illuminated.
