Prominent Lawyer’s Wife Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Him and Burning His Body

The wife of a prominent Georgia attorney was convicted of killing her husband and burning his body.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, Georgia Supreme Court Judge David L. Cannon Jr. sentenced Farris, 64, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for the 2018 murder of her husband, Atlanta-area attorney Gary Farris. WSB-TV, FOX 5 And 11Live reported.

She was also sentenced to five years in prison for trying to burn her husband’s body to hide his death and another five years in prison for making false statements to police, according to FOX 5.

During the sentencing, Farris reaffirmed the accusation at trial that it was his son, Scott Farris, who killed his father and called for the judge to vacate his conviction, acting as the “13th juror.”

Melody, who expressed regret for not testifying at last month’s hearing, said, “For over six years I’ve been told not to talk, don’t say that, to get legal advice,” according to FOX. “I could walk out of this courtroom today and drop dead. To my children, to my grandchildren, to Gary’s family, and quite frankly, to the entire world that sees this at this point… I’ve waited years to make this statement to everyone.”

According to the press, Cannon instructed him to focus on the matter and discuss only his sentence.

“I know in my heart, body and soul who did this. And I’m begging for help. I’m begging you, Judge Cannon. Please don’t send me to prison for something I didn’t do,” he said. continued. “I didn’t do this. If I had, I would have gladly assumed responsibility.”

Farris did not express emotion as the judge read the sentence aloud in the courtroom. video showed.

A Cherokee County jury found Melody guilty of murdering her husband on Nov. 4. Melody was found guilty of all charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, concealing the death of another person, and making false statements. FOX 5 And WSB-TV was reported at the time.

In July 2018, Scott found Gary’s remains in a pile of ashes on the family’s 10-acre farm in Alpharetta, Ga., and called police. Tribune Book News. Investigators initially thought Gary, 58, suffered a medical emergency and fell into the fire himself. But when police found a bullet lodged in one of Gary’s ribs, his death was declared a homicide.

“In July 2018, a horrific murder occurred in Cherokee County. According to WSB-TV, District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said after the verdict was announced: A man was shot, then left on a burn pile, where his remains were later found. “Victim Gary Farris was murdered by his wife on his own property. The shocking facts of this crime will forever remain in the minds of everyone involved in this case, including first responders, prosecutors, jurors and witnesses.”

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the Farris’s had argued over money and that Melody’s two previous relationships, which were revealed during the investigation, had strained their relationship. Melody was also the beneficiary of Gary’s $2 million life insurance policy. Tribune Book It had been reported previously, and police stated that they found traces of blood at the couple’s home.

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Melody’s defense attorney claimed during the hearings that Scott had a motive to kill his father and that he frequently borrowed money from Gary, who was a bone of contention in the family. Notebook. The defense also argued that Scott was the only suspect in possession of .38-caliber ammunition, the type of bullet found in Gary’s remains.

During the hearing, Scott denied his mother’s allegations and stated that he did not kill his father and did not help dispose of his body.

Defense attorney Michael Ray previously argued in his opening statement at last month’s hearing that police exhibited “confirmation bias” throughout the investigation and that “everything done in this case was specifically designed to attempt to convict Melody in the death of Gary Farris.” the Notebook.