An Augusta man accused of murder in a fatal 2021 shooting was denied bond Thursday.
Peter Berkery, 39, had pleaded not guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to murder charges in the Aug. 31, 2021, shooting of 21-year-old Raven Fulton at the Castle Pines Mobile Home Park.
Assistant District Attorney Kevin Davis said Thursday, Dec. 15, that while Berkery told sheriff investigators he shot Fulton in self defense, Fulton was unarmed.
Fulton’s mother had allowed Berkery to live in the family home for several weeks, but she wanted him out after he threatened to shoot up the house. She asked her son, Raven Fulton, to help her, Davis said.
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Berkery claimed that Raven Fulton threatened to kill him, but witnesses denied that happened, Davis said.
Defense attorney Aubree Smith asked Judge John Flythe to grant Berkery bond. Berkery is a disabled Army veteran who served two tours in combat.
Berkery does have a self-defense defense based on witnesses’ statements that Berkery backed up over 500 feet away from Raven Fulton and fired two warning shots into the ground, but the victim continued to advance on him, Smith said.
Although Flythe denied bond he asked the attorneys to schedule a hearing as soon as possible on the issue of immunity.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.Â
