Friend cleared in man's killing

A Richmond County Superior Court jury acquitted an Augusta man of murder charges Wednesday.

The decision freed Crawford J. Jackson, 58, who spent about eight months in jail awaiting trial.

Mr. Jackson was charged with murder for the Aug. 7 stabbing of Phillip W. Scott.

Mr. Scott, 50, died two days later. The pathologist who performed the autopsy testified that the stab wound pierced the wall of Mr. Scott's intestine and the surgery to repair the injury must have failed.

Assistant Public Defender Bryan Grantham who represented Mr. Jackson said his client stabbed Mr. Scott one time with a pocketknife, an act he admitted immediately to officers.

But Mr. Jackson also told officers the day it happened and the jury this week that he used the pocketknife in self-defense.

The two men had been friends for 10 to 12 years, Mr. Jackson testified. He had stayed the night at Mr. Scott's house and in the morning, Mr. Scott awoke in a foul mood, Mr. Jackson said.

He testified he was trying to get out of the house as Mr. Scott battered him.

Mr. Jackson said Mr. Scott continued to advance on him after he had been knocked to the floor of the front porch. That's when he pulled out his pocketknife, Mr. Jackson testified.

Mr. Scott had about 65 pounds on Mr. Jackson, his defense attorney said.

"I'm grateful for the jury and that Mr. Jackson gets to go home now," Mr. Grantham said.

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