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Partners Don Samuel and Amanda Clark Palmer have been representing Claud "Tex" McIver since 2017. He was charged with Malice Murder and Felony Murder (and other crimes) related to the shooting death of his wife Diane. Along with attorney Bruce Harvey, Don and Amanda vigorously defended the case at trial. After a two-month trial and days of jury deliberations, the jury returned a confounding verdict: they found Tex Not Guilty of Malice Murder but guilty of intentionally shooting his wife and causing her death. The verdict was appealed.
In 2022, a unanimous Supreme Court found that several errors were made by the trial court which required a new trial. (McIver v. State, 314 Ga. 109 (2022) read the opinion here)
Prior to the retrial, GSL successfully argued that the state could not introduce any evidence that Tex intended to kill his wife or that he had any financial motive in shooting her. This important ruling, restricting the state's trial presentation, led the state to immediately file an appeal, bringing a halt to the retrial. Subsequently, GSL was able to obtain a dismissal of the remaining felony murder charge and a plea to a reduced charge of Involuntary Manslaughter (meaning Tex did not intend to shoot or kill his wife).
