File photo of an empty jury box in court. (credit: Michael Kelley/GettyImages)
PERRY, Ga. (AP) — A jury has acquitted a middle Georgia man of aggravated assault charges in the 2009 stabbing of his fiancee’s grown son.
Benjy Merriweather was found not guilty Friday by a Houston County jury after five hours of deliberations.
The 60-year-old defendant was charged with stabbing Rocky McElroy, the son of his fiancee, during a domestic dispute in October 2009. Defense attorney Nick White argued successfully that Merriweather wounded the man in self-defense.
The Telegraph of Macon reports that White says his client is “very thankful” to be able to get on with his life now that the case is over. He says Merriwhether and McElroy’s mother remain together as a couple.
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