Contributing to the story -Georgia Bureau of Investigations, WMAZ TV, the Florida Times Union and WYFF News 4.
From Staff Reports
After three days of deliberations, a jury in the murder trial of Royheem Deeds told the court Thursday afternoon it had reached a verdict.
But moments later, that changed.
As Judge Sarah Wall read the counts aloud, the jury found Deeds not guilty of malice murder, but guilty of felony murder and aggravated assault on a peace officer, along with other charges tied to the 2016 shooting death of Eastman Police Officer Tim Smith.
When the jury was polled individually, one juror said the decision was not theirs.
With that, the verdict could not stand.
Judge Wall instructed the jury to return to the deliberation room, reminding them the law requires a unanimous decision.
“Whatever your verdict is, it must be unanimous,” she said.
The trial, being held in Bleckley County, stems from the Aug. 16, 2016 shooting of Smith, who was responding to a 911 call about a suspicious person near the intersection of Smith and Main Street in Eastman.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Smith arrived on scene and encountered an individual. When he exited his patrol car to investigate, he was shot. Smith returned gunfire, and the suspect fled the area.
Smith was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Investigators ultimately identified Deeds as the alleged suspect.
That evening, jurors were dismissed for the day.
They are expected to return Friday at 9 a.m. at the Bleckley County Courthouse in Cochran to continue deliberations.
Prosecutors have pointed to video evidence, witness testimony, and other findings they say place Deeds as the shooter. The defense has pushed back, calling the video inconclusive and questioning the reliability of witnesses.
District Attorney Tim Vaughn had previously sought the death penalty but withdrew that request earlier this year. Deeds still faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted.
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