OOF: Judge Announces Wrong Verdict in Murder Case

A judge in Atlanta read aloud a devastating “guilty” verdict for a murder suspect, only to be told that the verdict form declared the defendant “not guilty” on all counts.

On Friday, Alton Oliver was found not guilty in the shooting death of off-duty Fulton County Deputy James Thomas. In December 2022, Oliver was walking down the street in the early morning when Thomas approached him in an unmarked vehicle three separate times, according to the evidence in the case.

Oliver testified that Thomas made sexual advances toward him, which Oliver rejected. Upon being approached a third time, Oliver shot into Thomas’s vehicle, killing him. Oliver, who said he had feared for his safety, then fled the scene. Prosecutors insisted that his actions constituted murder.

The jury sided with Oliver, but when it was time to read the verdict, Judge Henry M. Newkirk omitted a crucial word.

“The verdict,” Newkirk began. “We, the jury, find the defendant guilty as to all six counts with the bill of indictment. Sheriff, will you please hand this to State’s counsel and pass it over to–”

The judge was suddenly interrupted by several voices, presumably members of the jury, since they knew the verdict they had just delivered.

“Wait, what?” one person said.

The judge was taken aback.

“Didn’t I say ‘not’?” he asked.

“No,” came the reply from multiple people.

“Sorry,” Newkirk said. “We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty.”

Oliver was acquitted on six counts, including murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, first-degree criminal damage to property, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

After reading the correct verdict, Newkirk told the defendant, “Mr. Oliver, good luck to you.”

Watch above via WAGA.