DA's Office Can Prosecute Ex-Intern Who's Now Person of Interest in Law Student Slaying, Judge Rules
Stephen McDaniel worked for about three months this spring as an intern in the Bibb County, Ga., district attorney’s office, during his third year in law school.
But that won’t prevent the DA’s office from prosecuting the Mercer University law graduate on two burglary charges concerning the apartment building in which he resided, a judge has ruled. His case has attracted considerable attention because McDaniel is also a person of interest in an unrelated murder case, in which the dismembered torso of fellow law grad Lauren Giddings was discovered near the apartments last month.
In a ruling today, Judge Tripp Self said a conflict of interest hasn’t been established, according to the Macon Telegraph and WMAZ.
“The defendant offered no credible evidence that the district attorney or any member of his staff is prosecuting him for their personal or individual interest or in their personal or individual capacity,” the judge wrote. “No member of the district attorney’s staff is a victim of the alleged crimes and the defendant has not shown that any member would personally gain by prosecuting the defendant.”
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “New Leads in Mercer Law Grad’s Murder, But No Arrest Imminent; Police Chief Announces $12K Reward”
ABAJournal.com: “Did Police Find Master Key in Apartment of Dismembered Law Grad’s Neighbor?”
