An Augusta man will spend life in prison after a jury convicted him of beating his mother’s boyfriend to death.
Augusta Circuit District Attorney Jared Williams’ Violent Crimes and Drug Unit announced a verdict Tuesday in the 2019 case against Andrez Kirkland, 38.
Kirkland was accused of murder in the death of Gary Stringer, 61. Stringer was letting Kirkland, his mother, his girlfriend and two children live with him at a house on Collier Road, according to prior reports.
After Stringer returned home from celebrating his birthday, he told Kirkland and his family to leave the house.
“The defendant viciously beat the victim, shattering his jaw, knocking teeth loose, fracturing his skull and causing massive internal bleeding,” Williams said.
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Kirkland told police Stringer had been beaten during a break-in. Most witnesses in the case were related to the defendant and family members allegedly coached a five-year-old boy to lie about the incident, he said.
Surveillance video from a neighbor’s house revealed activities that took place after the killing, and the child, now 10, was a key witness against his father.
Kirkland was granted a bond in 2019 and was out on bond until his arrest in October.
“Gary Stringer turned 61 just a few hours before his death,” said ADA Keagan Waystack after the trial. “What a terrible birthday president: A brutal beating by a coward half his age.”
Williams thanked Waystack, investigators Stefan Hegg and Thomas Brown, Victim Advocate, legal assistant Francia Jenkins, Sheriff’s Inv. Lucas Grant and jurors for their work.
Superior Court Judge Ashley Wright sentenced Kirkland to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
