Distinguished Lawyer’s Spouse Sentenced to Life for Murdering Him, Burning His Physique

The spouse of a outstanding Georgia lawyer has been convicted of killing her husband and burning his physique.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, Georgia Superior Court docket Choose David L. Cannon Jr. sentenced Farris, 64, to life in jail with the opportunity of parole after 30 years for killing her husband Gary Farris, an Atlanta-area lawyer, in 2018, WSB-TV, FOX 5 and 11Alive reported.

She additionally acquired 5 years for concealing her husband’s demise by making an attempt to burn his stays and 5 years for making a false assertion to police, with each sentences to run concurrently, per FOX 5.

Throughout the sentencing, Farris reaffirmed an accusation she made at trial that her son, Scott Farris, was the one who killed his father, and referred to as for the decide to behave because the “thirteenth juror” and throw out her conviction.

“I’ve had six plus years of being informed to not discuss, do not say that, take authorized recommendation,” Melody stated, expressing remorse for not testifying in the course of the trial final month, per FOX. “I might stroll out of this courtroom at present and drop over lifeless. I need to be sure that my youngsters, my grandchildren, and Gary’s household, and to be sincere, at this time limit, all the world who has seen this … I’ve waited for years to make this assertion to everybody.”

Cannon directed her to remain on matter and solely focus on her sentencing, in accordance with the retailers.

“I do know that in my coronary heart, physique, and soul, who did this. And I’m begging for assist. I am begging you, Choose Cannon. Please don’t ship me to jail for one thing I did not do,” she continued. “I didn’t do that. If I had executed this, I might take this cost gladly.”

Farris didn’t categorical emotion because the decide learn the sentence aloud, courtroom video confirmed.

A Cherokee County jury discovered Melody responsible of killing her husband on Nov. 4. She was convicted on all fees, together with homicide with malice, felony homicide, aggravated assault, concealing the demise of one other and making a false assertion, FOX 5 and WSB-TV reported on the time.

In July 2018, Scott found Gary’s stays on the household’s 10-acre farm in Alpharetta, Ga., in a pile of ashes and referred to as police, in accordance with the Tribune Ledger Information. Investigators initially believed that Gary, who was 58, suffered a medical emergency and fell into the fireplace himself. Nonetheless, after police discovered a bullet lodged in one among Gary’s rib bones, his demise was declared a murder.

“In July 2018, a horrific homicide occurred in Cherokee County. A person was shot, then left on a burn pile, the place his stays have been later found,” District Lawyer Susan Okay. Treadaway stated after the decision was introduced, per WSB-TV. “The sufferer, Gary Farris, was killed by his spouse on his personal property. The surprising details of this crime will endlessly stay with all who have been concerned on this case, together with first responders, prosecutors, jurors, and witnesses.”

Throughout the trial, prosecutors alleged that the Farrises had been arguing about cash, and Melody’s two earlier affairs that have been revealed in the course of the investigation had strained their relationship. Melody was additionally the beneficiary of Gary’s $2 million life insurance coverage coverage, the Tribune Ledger beforehand reported, and police testified that they discovered a path of blood within the couple’s residence.

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Melody’s protection lawyer alleged in the course of the proceedings that Scott had motive to kill his father and that he typically borrowed cash from Gary, some extent of rivalry within the household, per the Ledger. The protection additionally argued that Scott was the one suspect who owned .38 caliber ammunition, which was the kind of bullet present in Gary’s stays.

Scott denied his mom’s allegations in the course of the trial, testifying that he didn’t kill his father and didn’t assist eliminate his physique.

Protection lawyer Michael Ray beforehand argued in the course of the trial’s opening statements final month that police had “affirmation bias” all through the investigation and that “the whole lot that was executed on this case was tailor-made particularly to aim to convict Melody within the demise of Gary Farris,” per the Ledger.