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Statesboro, GA – Ogeechee Superior Court Judge Ronnie Thompson issued a ruling on a motion for immunity in the Marc Wilson case, a criminal prosecution stemming from the June 2020 shooting death of Haley Hutchinson. The shooting happened while Wilson was allegedly trying to elude several white teenagers in a pickup truck who were chasing him, and his white girlfriend, and hurling racial insults. Wilson’s defense team has said Wilson was defending himself under the state’s Stand Your Ground law.
Judge Thompson found that the evidence presented during the three-day long immunity hearing did not meet the standard of proof for immunity under Georgia’s Stand Your Ground law. He did, however, grant the Wilson legal team’s request and issued a $100,000 cash bond with stipulations.
William “Marc” Wilson, 23-years old, will now face trial with jury selection beginning on April 18. He continues to passionately maintain his right to self defense under Georgia law and his legal defense team will continue to zealously fight for their client, despite this ruling.
Wilson faces one count of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault for the June 14, 2020 shooting that took the life of Haley Hutcheson, 17, while both were in moving vehicles on Veterans Memorial Parkway in Statesboro, Georgia. As Wilson’s defense team argued, Wilson feared for his life, and that of his girlfriend who was in the vehicle during the incident, while being pursued by a group of white teenagers who were driving intoxicated and shouting racial slurs while trying to run his vehicle off into the shoulder of the road.
“This case amongst so many others highlights the urgency in why Georgia must address the racial disparity in Stand Your Ground claims. It is troubling that people continue to have to defend themselves against violent behavior, only to be further criminalized by an unjust legal system,” said James Woodall, Policy Associate with the Southern Center for Human Rights.
The racial disparity in the application of Stand Your Ground is an important justice issue. In Stand Your Ground states, homicides were ruled justified in 45% of cases involving a white shooter and Black victim, but just 11% of cases involving a Black shooter and white victim.
The JUSTGeorgia Coalition, alongside the Marc Wilson Solidarity committee led by his family and other community and legal advocates, continues to advocate for Marc Wilson to be cleared of all charges. Donations for Wilson’s bond can be given through this link.
