Telfair County man appealing 2006 murder conviction, life sentence

The Georgia Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Monday in the case of a Telfair County man who is appealing his 2006 murder conviction and life sentence.

Jurors convicted Eugene McDuffie of the shooting death of Jurrell “Fat Man” Clark, according to a case summary prepared by the court.

According to that summary:

Police were outside the McRae police station when they heard gunshots. After heading toward the shots, an officer saw a gold Jeep Cherokee stopped in the road with three men standing around it talking to the driver.

The Jeep Cherokee sped off as the officer approached it, but another officer stopped the car later. McDuffie was behind the wheel.

Officers later found Clark lying dead in the yard of the Gregg Apartment complex.

Witnesses said McDuffie had walked up to the porch of an apartment where George “Tony” Harris was sitting on the porch.

Clark, who also was at the apartment complex, yelled at McDuffie, saying McDuffie’s father had stolen drugs from his backyard. McDuffie admitted his father had taken the drugs, but he said he wasn’t responsible for what his father had done.

Clark threatened that he was going to get a gun, and he walked toward his car.

With Clark’s back to him, McDuffie pulled out his gun and shot Clark in the back of the head and in the leg.

McDuffie later tried to drag Clark’s body to the back of the complex, but it was too heavy.

McDuffie’s lawyer is arguing that the attorney who represented McDuffie during his trial was ineffective.

He also contends that McDuffie was denied due process because the prosecutor made “racist remarks” during her closing argument.

McDuffie is a black man. His jury comprised only white people.

Prosecutors say that McDuffie received effective assistance from his lawyer and his rights weren’t violated.

State prison records show McDuffie is being held at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe.

This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Telfair County man appealing 2006 murder conviction, life sentence ."