A 62-year-old Augusta man accused of murder was granted bond Friday, Aug. 26.
Frederick O. McNeal was charged with murder in the July 26 fatal shooting of 33-year-old Anthony Lee Flowers at the Corner Store on Wheeless Road.
On Friday in Richmond County Superior Court, after hearing about the case from the defense and a witness who described McNeal as a protector of others, Chief Judge Daniel J. Craig granted McNeal an ‘own recognizance’ bond. The bond allows McNeal to be released from jail on his own recognizance without posting money.
According to an earlier report in The Augusta Press, McNeal and Flowers got into an argument at the convenience store.
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Defense attorney Jennifer Cross said that the owner of the convenience store described what happened as a case of self-defense, and that he has had to remove Flowers from the store several times for harassing other customers.
Cross told the judge that McNeal is a father of four and a grandfather. He had worked until suffering a heart attack. He still requires medication and regular doctor visits.
McNeal has no prior felony conviction on his record. Flowers also had no criminal records in Richmond County.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
