Defense aims to appeal rulings

Tuesday could be the final pretrial hearing before the death penalty trials of two people accused of ambushing two men.

Most of the issues in the case of Antonio Jones and Lacy J. Barnard have been settled, but defense attorneys would like to convince the judge to let them appeal some rulings before the trial begins, District Attorney Ashley Wright said Friday.

She said she will oppose any pretrial appeal.

Mr. Jones, 29, and Ms. Barnard, 20, have pleaded not guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to several charges, including capital murder.

Investigators contend they are responsible for the deaths of two men who where lured to a remote area near Brickyard Pond Road and Gordon Highway on March 27, 2007. Both men were robbed and shot repeatedly with a shotgun. One victim survived, but 23-year-old Eladio Gonzalez was killed.

Because they face death penalty trials, Mr. Jones and Ms. Barnard will be tried separately. Both have been held without bond since their arrests the day after the victims were found.

Judge Michael N. Annis has already ruled that statements the pair made are admissible, as are the items detectives found in a search of Mr. Jones' home.

Officers collected clothing, a shotgun and shotgun shells, according to court documents.

A third person arrested in the case, 55-year-old Ronald E. Banks, died of cancer in March 2008.

According to Ms. Barnard's statement, the three had begun hanging out together in the weeks leading up to the robbery and killing. They wanted to rob a Hispanic man suspected of having large sums of cash.

When he couldn't be found the night of the planned holdup, Ms. Barnard picked up Mr. Gonzalez, whom she knew, and the second victim.

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