The death penalty trial for the man accused of orchestrating the botched murder-for-hire scheme that led to the murder of Glennville native Bobby Kicklighter will remain in Tattnall County…for now.
That decision followed a Motion filed by Nathan Weekes back in 2023 and arguments heard last month before Judge Jay Stewart. Attorneys for Weekes argued in May that the case should be transferred out of Tattnall County.
The motion relied on news articles and pretrial publicity, contending that the venue should be changed due to ‘prejudicial pretrial publicity.’ Prosecutors asked the court to wait until the jury selection process was underway before making a ruling. You can read the full rundown on arguments from both sides here.
Citing OCGA 17-7-150, which requires that a judge grant a Motion for a Change of Venue if it is satisfied by the evidence that an impartial jury cannot be obtained in the county, Judge Stewart wrote that the defense had the burden of demonstrating that 1) the trial setting is inherently prejudicial due to pervasive publicity or 2) actual bias exists among prospective jurors, making a fair trial impossible.
In his Order, Stewart wrote:
“In the present case, the defense asserts that the trial setting is inherently prejudicial. To support such a claim, the record must show that the publicity was “unduly extensive, factually incorrect, inflammatory, or reflective of an atmosphere of hostility.”
“After reviewing the evidence submitted in Exhibit 1 and considering the arguments of counsel, the Court finds that the Defendant has not met the burden of showing that the trial setting is inherently prejudicial due to the extensive publicity. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that the Defendant’s Motion for Change of Venue is DENIED at this time.“
“It is further ORDERED that the Court will reserve ruling on the issue of actual juror bias until the conclusion of voir dire.”
Weekes’ case was initially set for trial in early August of 2025, but due to conflicts with other pending death penalty cases, the trial date was continued. A new date has not yet been set. Death penalty cases must be prioritized “by age,” which means that older cases are placed at the front of the line when it comes to court proceedings. The issue arises out of the fact that the majority of defendants facing the death penalty are represented by the same few capital defenders who are only able to adequately prepare for one trial at a time. As of the May 2025 court date, at least two other death penalty trials in Georgia are scheduled ‘ahead’ of the Weekes trial.
Read previous coverage on the request for a change in venue:
