Augustan convicted of beating mom’s 61-year-old boyfriend to death
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A suspect has been convicted of beating an older man to death and leaving him to die in 2019, according to District Attorney Jared Williams.
The defendant, Andrez Kirkland, 38, of Augusta, was convicted by a jury of his peers this week after a trial that began March 4 and ended late Monday.
The victim, Gary Stringer, 61, of Augusta, was dating the defendant’s mother and allowed the defendant to move in with him a few months earlier.
The victim had gone out to celebrate his birthday on Jan. 19, 2019.
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He returned to his home, an argument ensued, and he told the defendant and his family to leave.
Instead, the defendant viciously beat the victim, shattering his jaw, knocking teeth loose, fracturing his skull and causing massive internal bleeding, according to prosecutors.
The defendant and his family tried to cover up this murder, telling police and even the victim’s family that this occurred during a break-in, according to Williams.
While Richmond County investigators interviewed the defendant, they noticed he had swelling and cuts to his hands, consistent with having punched something repeatedly. That led them to suspect him.
Most witnesses in the case were related to the defendant, many of whom changed their statements from the time of the incident to trial, according to Williams.
The case hinged upon the testimony of the defendant’s son, a child who was 5 years old at the time.
The child, now 10, itted to being coached by his family to change his story at trial to “say the words that would set my daddy free.”
“The jury was able to see the truth through the lies, and found the verdict that spoke justice for the victim and his family,” Williams said in a statement.
Essential to uncovering the truth was the surveillance video from across the street, where a neighbor’s cameras recorded all the comings and goings in the aftermath of the killing.
After prosecutors gave closing arguments, the jury found the defendant guilty of malice murder and felony murder.
Kirkland was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
“Gary Stringer turned 61 just a few hours before his death,” Assistant District Attorney Keagan Waystack said after the trial. “What a terrible birthday present: a brutal beating by a coward half his age.”
Williams said:
“I am grateful for this jury who represented our community so well in its dedication in finding the truth.”
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