An Augusta man whose criminal case led the state Supreme Court to create a new rule of law pleaded guilty to reduced charges Tuesday.

Larry M. Paul, 59, sat in his wheelchair in Richmond County Superior Court as District Attorney Danny Craig told the judge how Mr. Paul "literally gutted" Charles Veaszey after the two argued at Helga's bar Jan. 25, 1997.

Mr. Paul was once convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison in the case, but the Georgia Supreme Court reversed that conviction in October 2000 because of Chief Judge William M. Fleming Jr.'s behavior during the trial.

The court found the judge took on a prosecutor's role and injected his opinion about Mr. Paul's guilt.

"The trial judge crossed the line when he questioned defendant's experts about post-traumatic stress disorder and attempted suicide. In each of those instances, the trial judge effectively disparaged defendant's psychiatric defense and intimated that he gave it no credence whatsoever," read the unanimous opinion.

In the past, such an act by a judge was not necessarily a reason to reverse a conviction, especially if the defense attorney didn't object - as Mr. Paul's trial attorney did not. The state Supreme Court changed that rule with Mr. Paul's case. Anytime a judge interjects his opinion into a trial, it is now grounds for an automatic reversal.

On Tuesday, Judge Neal W. Dickert accepted the negotiation that called for Mr. Paul to plead guilty to aggravated assault and receive five years' probation. He also must pay Mr. Veazey $10,000 in restitution. Mr. Craig agreed to drop a weapon charge.

Mr. Paul, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, will pay $250 a month in restitution. His attorney who won the appeal, Mark J. Kadish, told the judge Mr. Paul's only income is from the Veterans Administration.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.