The man who admitted to repeatedly stabbing and slashing Damien T. Jenkins nearly four years ago was convicted of murder and other charges Thursday, Sept. 15.
Ri’Chard H. Bryant, 24, was charged with murder, armed robbery, theft and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime for the Nov. 24, 2018, death of Jenkins inside the victim’s Mill Street home.
Bryant testified Wednesday, Sept. 14, that he killed Jenkins in self-defense when Jenkins assaulted him in what he feared was a rape attempt.
But after deliberating nearly six hours over two days, the Richmond County Superior Court jury returned a verdict of guilty.
Judge Amanda Heath imposed a sentence of life in prison without parole for murder.
The two men had developed a yearlong friendship through Facebook. On Nov. 20, 2018, Jenkins, 40, drove to Atlanta to bring Bryant back to his home when Bryant needed to leave Atlanta.
Assistant District Attorney Kevin Davis argued to the jury that that wasn’t good enough for Bryant. He wanted Jenkins to take him back home to Brunswick immediately, and when Jenkins told him he had to wait because Jenkins had to work and because he wanted to spend Thanksgiving with his family, Bryant attacked him.
“He literally stabbed the man in the back,” Davis said.
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Jenkins was stabbed and slashed 37 times. Davis argued to the jury Bryant then ransacked Jenkins’ home but whatever intention he may have had was thawed when he answered Jenkins’ phone and realized someone was already looking for Jenkins. He then got into Jenkins’ car and drove to Brunswick where he was arrested.
Four days before Jenkins died, he called 911 when he realized that when he allowed Bryant to hold his phone, Bryant used it to steal money from him. The jury watched the video from an officer’s bodycam that day. Bryant admitted he took the money and returned it.
Defense attorney Jordan Price told the jury in his closing statement that Bryant went back to Jenkins’ home on Nov. 24, 2018, to apologize and ask if he could still get a ride home. He trusted Jenkins and wasn’t suspicious when Jenkins told him to follow him to his bedroom.
It was there that Jenkins attacked, Price said. Bryant was justified in defending himself and lashed out with the first weapon he found — a knife that fell to the floor when Jenkins pushed Bryant into the dresser, knocking it and him over, Price said.
People don’t get stabbed in the back when someone acts in self-defense, the prosecutor countered. The community has seen enough violence, Davis argued to the jury, asking them to “just say enough is enough.”
Jenkins was the kind of man who worked multiple jobs, who served as a mentor to others. He was the only way who agreed to help Bryant when everyone turned else turned him down, Davis said. Davis asked for a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.Â
