The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction and life-prison sentence for a Gwinnett man who flew off the rails on a crack binge in 2008 and killed his girlfriend with an ax, a court official said Monday.
Reporter: By Josh Green, Staff Writer
Email Address: josh.green@gwinnettdailypost.com
ATLANTA — The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the murder conviction and life-prison sentence for a Gwinnett man who flew off the rails on a crack binge in 2008 and killed his girlfriend with an ax, a court official said Monday.
A Gwinnett jury in 2009 convicted Norcross resident Shannon Marlow of killing 47-year-old Patricia Rabold during a Valentine’s Day incident that triggered a SWAT standoff at her home near Norcross.
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Marlow was sentenced to life plus 10 years, a ruling the justices recently found evidence to uphold.
Marlow, now 36, is serving time at Valdosta State Prison, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. He had claimed the killing was in self-defense when Rabold came at him with a knife.
Authorities said Marlow admitted to being awake for five days in the throes of a crack cocaine binge. He initially told investigators he “freaked out” because he was paranoid and believed Rabold was in cahoots with a hitman. He later recanted, saying he lied to lay the foundation for an insanity plea.
A forensic expert at trial said the victim was struck at least five times with the tool’s blade.
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