The man accused of gunning down a 13-year-old boy last year and carjacking to escape will represent himself at trial next month.
Gregory Louis Thornton, 30, and co-defendant Tia Shante Jackson, 35, are accused of killing Buddy Brown Jr. at Richmond Summit apartments March 28.
The 13-year-old reportedly was retrieving a DoorDash order outside the Broad Street complex when he was killed.
Thornton, a convicted felon from Maryland, was picked up in Pennsylvania in June by U.S. Marshals. Jackson was extradited from West Virginia and booked into Webster Detention Center Nov. 21.
Thornton faces a 10-count indictment that includes malice and felony murder, carjacking and firearms charges.
After the alleged killing, police say Thornton and Jackson attempted to carjack the DoorDash driver, then drove in a Camaro to the Smart Grocery on Wrightsboro Road, where Thornton carjacked a man’s Hyundai then wrecked it.
Shortly after his indictment, Thornton began making demands for a speedy trial. Traditionally if a speedy trial demand isn’t met, all charges against a defendant can be dismissed.
After no trial happened, Thornton asked to release public defender Greg Gelpi and represent himself. Tuesday was Thornton’s hearing in Richmond County Superior Court Judge Jesse Stone’s court on his request.
Stone reviewed the indictment with Thornton and asked him repeatedly if he really wanted to represent himself.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life without parole plus 80 years, Assistant Major Crimes District Attorney Keagan Waystack said.
“Do you realize that I do not think your decision to represent yourself is a good idea?” Stone asked Thornton.
Stone said he believed Thornton was making the decision “with eyes wide open” and approved his request, subject to the appointment of Gelpi as standby counsel.
Thornton said he now plans to file motions to dismiss the charges against him based on his lack of a speedy trial and lack of due process.
Waystack said she’ll be ready to try Thornton on Feb. 5.
