If Marvin Hall shot an unarmed friend three times, imagine what he might do to a stranger, family members of Shawn Couch said to the judge in asking her to deny Hall release on bond.
Judge Amanda Heath did deny Hall bond Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the conclusion of a Richmond County Superior Court bond hearing, finding he could pose a danger to the community.
Hall, 40, was arrested the night of Sept. 26, 2021, after he fatally shot the 38-year-old Couch. The victim and another female friend and coworker went to Hall’s Ashley Drive home that Saturday night to socialize, said Assistant District Attorney Justin Mullis.
Investigators believe the reason the two men argued and Hall shot Couch is related to the death of a mutual friend who died of an overdose, Mullis said. Hall thought Couch gave the friend the drugs, Mullis said.
Couch’s sister Carol Bond asked the judge to deny bond. Too many people are being shot, she said. Her brother was shot by someone whom he considered a friend and now two families are left devastated, hers and Hall’s, Bond said.
Defense attorney Sean Gamble asked the judge to consider granting Hall bond. Hall’s 40 years old, and his only criminal offense was a drunken driving from when he was a teen. He is a foreman at SRS. He has custody of his children, Gamble said. All of his family and friends are in this area so he isn’t a flight risk, and he can’t be considered a danger based on his lack of history, Gamble said.
Hall had been at home minding his own business before Couch and his friend come over that night and an altercation ensued. Gamble said he has learned a former neighbor of Hall’s has security video that shows there was an altercation.
“This is a strange, sad occurrence,” Gamble said, but Hall meets all of the criteria for bond.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.Â
