Accused cop killer’s death penalty trial to begin Monday

Testimony is set to begin Monday in the trial for a man charged with murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of Monroe County deputy Michael Norris.

Christopher Keith Calmer, 49, could face the death penalty if the group of Upson County jurors selected to hear the case find him guilty.

Calmer allegedly opened fire on Norris and another deputy, Jeff Wilson, after the lawmen had arrived at Calmer’s parents’ home near Interstate 75 and Pate Road on Sept. 13, 2014.

Evidence presented at a pretrial hearing showed a family member had called 911 saying Calmer had been holding a gun to his own head, “acting out of his mind” while mocking the fear felt by other family members.

Shots were fired after the deputies approached the front door.

Norris, 24, was shot in the head. Wilson, shot in the leg and buttocks, handcuffed Calmer despite his injuries.

Calmer, who also was shot in the exchange, has been in custody since soon after the shooting.

The trial is expected to last about two weeks, said Jonathan Adams, Towaliga Judicial Circuit District Attorney.

Bibb and Upson county sheriff’s offices are providing deputies and bailiffs to help with courtroom security and driving jurors to Forsyth and back to Upson County each day.

People who live or have businesses along jurors’ route are being asked not to display Back the Blue signs, blue lights or law enforcement memorials during the trial. Calmer’s lawyers have expressed concerns about the impact such memorials could have on jurors and prosecutors have concurred.

Adams said no memorials were visible on the route Friday.

The last Monroe County death penalty case went to trial in 1998.

Andrew Allen Cook was sentenced to death for the 1995 shooting deaths of Mercer University students Michele Cartagena, 19, and Grant Hendrickson, 22, at Lake Juliette. Cook was executed in 2013.

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Accused cop killer’s death penalty trial to begin Monday."