A Georgia jury has acquitted three former Washington County sheriff’s deputies accused of repeatedly tasing a Black man who asked for water until he died.

According to Atlanta Black Star, the deputies, Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell, and Rhett Scott, all of whom are white, were found not guilty of felony murder and aggravated assault in the 2017 death of 58-year-old Eurie Lee Martin. Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct charges.

Martin, who lived in a group home and had schizophrenia, had walked roughly 30 miles in July 2017 before stopping at a home in Sandersville to ask for water. The homeowner called 911, telling dispatchers he didn’t know whether Martin was “crazy, drunk, or what.”

When the deputies arrived, they attempted to question Martin. The 58-year-old declined to respond, prompting the deputies to deploy their Tasers. Body camera footage showed Martin being stunned 15 times, including after deputies lifted his shirt to strike him directly. After handcuffing him, deputies left Martin on the ground until first responders arrived. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy ruled Martin's death a homicide, but deputies argued they acted in self-defense. The deputies were fired three months after Martin's death and indicted in December 2017. A judge initially granted them immunity, but the Georgia Supreme Court reversed that decision in 2020, saying it was unclear whether Martin posed any threat or was simply exercising his right not to speak.

During the deputies' trial, defense attorney Shawn Merzlak claimed Martin was lawfully detained for “littering and walking in the middle of the road."

“This case is not ‘poor Mr. Eurie Martin getting tased because he wanted water,'" Merzlak told jurors.

Prosecutor George Lipscomb forcefully pushed back against Merzlak's argument.

“People killed for littering? People killed by walking in the street?” Lipscomb asked. “Is that Washington County? Is this who you are?”

Martin's sister, Helen Gilbert, said she was "very disappointed" with the outcome of the case, which dragged on for eight years. Francys Johnson, who is representing Martin's family, vowed to continue the fight will continue in federal court.

“As a free man in this country, he should have been able to walk home,” Johnson said. “They are not finished with that walk with Mr. Martin until they experience some justice.”

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