DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. —
A pair of men accused in the beating death of an 18-year-old faced a judge Friday morning. It was their first court appearance since the Douglas County district attorney announced plans to seek the death penalty against them.
Channel 2’s Erin Coleman went to the Douglas County Courthouse where Emmanuel Boykins and Tracen Franklin faced a judge. The two are accused of beating and stomping Bobby Tillman to death outside of a Douglasville house party in November.
Tillman’s mother and supporters were in the courtroom Friday as the judge urged for the case to move forward as it is more than a year old. He set a trial date for next year.
“The trial is on June the 1st 2012, and if y’all are not ready by then, we’ll just have to address your inability to be ready by then as that trial date approaches,” Judge Maclain said.
The next court date, a motion hearing, for Boykins and Franklin is scheduled for Nov. 17. Two other teens were charged in the killing, but they are not facing the death penalty.
