A Caledonia man charged with shooting and killing his wife last year will wait a few more months until his trial in the Lowndes County Circuit Court.
Although Brian Holliman, 27, was slated to appear Aug. 31 before Circuit Court Judge Lee Howard to stand trial for one count of murder, the suspect”s trial was continued until Nov. 30.
Holliman is accused of shooting and killing his wife, 24-year-old Laura Holliman, Oct. 25, 2008, at the couple”s home at 770 Wolfe Road in Caledonia.
Brian Holliman has been free on bond pending his trial since November 2008, and previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. Holliman”s trial has been continued at least once before, according to court records.
Although Laura Holliman”s death, the result of a shotgun wound, originally was ruled a suicide, the Lowndes County Coroner and Sheriff”s Office investigators became suspicious of the death and began questioning Brian Holliman.
According to law enforcement officials, the suspect admitted to shooting his wife with a shotgun while being questioned by LCSO deputies.
Since Brian Holliman was arrested, his three children have been in the custody of Brian Holliman”s parents and other family members, according to Lowndes County Chancery Court employees.
Holliman is allowed no contact with his wife”s family and must be at his parents” house from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day.
2007 murder
Will Porter Jr., also scheduled to stand trial during this session of 16th Circuit Court, decided not to go to trial, and it may have saved his life.
Facing a possible death sentence if convicted of killing his ex-wife, Mary Michelle Porter, with a shotgun on Aug. 19, 2007, Porter pled guilty to the crime Friday in Lowndes County Circuit Court and was sentenced by Howard Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His trial had been scheduled for Monday.
Porter had been in custody since the day of the shooting after turning himself in to authorities.
Columbus Police Department officers attempted to apprehend Porter at his home hours prior to the shooting, having obtained a warrant for his arrest on charges of aiming a loaded gun at Mary Michelle Porter days earlier. However, because they did not physically see him, they were forbidden from entering his home.
Porter had also been arrested on a domestic violence charge against his wife in 2006.
Other trials scheduled
A pair of other murder trials also are scheduled for the current term of the Lowndes Circuit Court:
- Teenager Rennie Gibbs also is scheduled to stand trial Aug. 31.
Gibbs, of 300 South Lehmberg Road in Columbus, faces murder charges after a cocaine overdose caused the stillbirth of her baby in December 2006. Although a minor, Gibbs is being tried as an adult under the state”s depraved heart murder law.
- Leemajor Wilder, 19, of 1508 15th Ave. N. in Columbus, also is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 31.
Wilder faces capital murder charges for the shooting and killing 29-year-old Cornelius Cunningham Sept. 18, 2008 while the victim was sitting outside his 2112 14th Ave. N. apartment.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
