A Fulton County judge briefly told a defendant he was guilty before correcting himself and announcing an across-the-board acquittal Friday in an Atlanta courtroom.
Senior Judge Henry M. Newkirk misspoke while reading the verdict for 26-year-old Alton Deshawn Oliver, according to WSB-TV News, then immediately fixed the error after jurors and spectators reacted; Oliver was cleared on all six counts tied to the 2022 shooting death of Deputy James Thomas Jr., 24. (RELATED: Judge Dismisses 22 Counts Against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs In Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit)
“We the jury find the defendant guilty as to all six counts of the bill of indictment,” the judge said, reading from the verdict form. As the words left his mouth, laughter rippled through the courtroom and several jurors spoke up to correct him.
“Didn’t I say not?” Newkirk asked, drawing more chuckles when the panel responded, “No.”
“Sorry,” the judge said before correcting himself. “We the jury find the defendant not guilty on all six counts.”
The announcement set off applause and cheers in the gallery.
Oliver, who took the stand, had argued self-defense, saying Thomas repeatedly circled back in his personal car and made unwanted sexual advances before the encounter turned deadly on Bolton Road, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Prosecutors pressed inconsistencies in Oliver’s initial account, but the jury sided with the defense after more than nine hours of deliberations, according to Fox 5 News.
The case drew intense scrutiny because Thomas — an Army veteran and a Fulton County deputy assigned to the jail unit — was off duty when he was shot and killed in December 2022, WSB-TV News reported. After the verdict, Newkirk told Oliver, “Mr. Oliver, good luck to you,” and dismissed the panel. The district attorney’s office said it respected the jury’s decision, according to the outlet.
Oliver walked out a free man Friday after being acquitted of murder and aggravated assault, among other counts.