A Clayton County murder case that grabbed national headlines will go to trial Monday.
"America's Most Wanted" helped police catch Wisdom Jeffrey earlier this year. He's accused of killing his wife, Corrissa Friends, in 2010.
Friends was a new mother and only 21 years old when a gunman shot her three times in her Clayton County home.
Charles and Patricia Friends are raising their granddaughter, Casey, who is now 3 years old. They hope the trial will bring closure.
Because the Friends are scheduled to be called as witnesses, they are not allowed to attend the trial.
"It's not over yet. It's like it happened yesterday that it happened. I miss her. I miss her so much."
"It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt very bad, but I have to get through it. And you know what I have on my side is the truth," said Patricia Friends.
Mrs. Friends will testify that just hours before her granddaughter's murder, she spoke to an angry Jeffrey on the phone. Prosecutors will then try to prove that Jeffrey walked into his estranged wife's Riverdale apartment and shot her three times with a shotgun.
"I don't want him to ever see the light of day again. So if that's life plus 70, or life with no chance of parole, or whatever it is in the state of Georgia that would put him behind bars for the rest of his life, I would be comfortable with," Charles Friends said.
Comfort is something the friends have had very little of since Corrissa's death. Jeffrey, a prime suspect from the very beginning, disappeared shortly after the murder for more than a year. The GBI told the family to keep an extremely low profile.
Casey has never been allowed to go to a public daycare for that reason. Even today, her grandparents are hesitant to say much publicly about her.
"She's doing fine. She's very well adjusted, well rounded, and very intelligent," said Charles Friends.
After the trial, another family member will be able to formally adopt Casey, hopefully giving the family closure.
"We're going to get justice. Finally, we're going to get justice," said Charles Friends.
Jeffrey's murder trial will begin Monday morning at the Clayton County courthouse. The prosecutor handling the case says it should last no more than a week.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:25 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:25:16 GMT
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Authorities say more than a dozen people were injured in an accident involving a hotel shuttle bus near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday morning.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:11 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:11:47 GMT
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
If you're hitting the road this weekend, you wont be alone. Plenty of drivers are expected to make use of the long Memorial Day weekend, both in and out of town.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:50:02 GMT
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer boating season. Authorities are reminding folks that there are some new laws on Georgia's waterways.
Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer boating season. Authorities are reminding folks that there are some new laws on Georgia's waterways.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:21 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:21:22 GMT
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. On Thursday, Parson was convicted of shooting his wife, Adina, eight times in 2012.
A judge has sentenced Michael Parson to the maximum of 35 years in jail for the attempted murder of his wife. During an emotional sentencing hearing on Friday morning, Parson's mother told the court she still doesn't believe he is the shooter.
Wisdom Jeffrey is accused of killing his wife, Corrissa Friends.
