The trial has officially commenced for Alton Oliver, who is accused of the fatal shooting of off-duty Fulton County Deputy James Thomas on December 29, 2022. Opening statements have outlined the conflicting narratives from the prosecution and the defense regarding the early morning encounter on Bolton Road.
Table of Contents
The Core Incident
The event occurred around 4:00 AM as Alton Oliver was walking home from work. Deputy James Thomas, who was off-duty and driving his personal car, interacted with Oliver. The encounter escalated, resulting in Deputy Thomas being shot and killed.
The Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution argues that the shooting was unjustified and that Deputy Thomas did not present a danger to the defendant.
- They assert that Deputy Thomas did not pose a threat to Alton Oliver.
- To support this, they stated that Thomas’s service shotgun was locked away in the trunk of his car, indicating he was not armed during the interaction.
The Defense’s Argument
The defense claims that Alton Oliver acted out of fear for his safety, portraying Deputy Thomas as the aggressor.
- They state that Oliver was walking home when Thomas circled him multiple times, making two U-turns to come back towards him.
- A central claim from the defense is that Deputy Thomas was offering Oliver “sexual acts,” which caused Oliver to feel threatened.
- The defense attorney contrasted the two individuals, noting that the victim, Thomas, was “significantly smaller” than the defendant, Oliver, and was wearing non-threatening footwear (“slides”).
- The defense concluded that Deputy Thomas “had a choice” to leave the scene but chose to return, thereby escalating the situation.
Trial Progress
- Opening statements have been presented by both sides.
- Witness testimony has begun, including from the individual who called the police and a crime scene expert.
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