A jury selected Monday will begin hearing evidence next week in the case of a man suspected of being a serial rapist and facing charges that include murder.
Michael C. Clay's first trial in Richmond County Superior Court next week will involve only two of the charges against him.
District Attorney Ashley Wright said Monday that the 17 criminal counts against Mr. Clay have been broken up because not all are related.
Mr. Clay, 28, will stand trial first on two counts of aggravated assault.
He is accused of hitting David R. Barnes with a vehicle Feb. 15, 2006, the same day he is accused of beating his girlfriend Kimberly Wright, breaking her teeth.
Mr. Clay has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
After his February 2006 arrest, Mr. Clay was identified as a suspect in a brutal attack that left Sherry Rose Murphy in a coma.
Ms. Murphy, 43, was found behind a Milledgeville Road bar Jan. 9, 2006. She had suffered brain damage, internal injuries and broken bones.
Ms. Murphy never regained consciousness. She died Oct. 13, 2006.
According to earlier reports in The Augusta Chronicle , DNA evidence allegedly connects Mr. Clay to attacks on three other women who reported being beaten, kicked and sexually assaulted in May 2000 and June 2003.
Mr. Clay is also accused of beating and robbing a woman three days after Ms. Murphy was attacked.
He has been held without bond since his arrest.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
yeah, justus. Good, isn't it? All of the evidence and witnesses are just made up. It's all a fantasy just to get some black guy. You sure earned your money today.
he will end up with life.if we r lucky he will get death.
I never heard about a serial rapist on the loose were did you get this story from FOX NEWS. Ashely Wright when you say serial rapist,what do you mean ?Did he raped 5 or more women? The colored picture shown above does not fit the profile of a serial rapist. D.A. Ashely Wright go back to law school and do your home work on what ethinc background are profiled as a serial rapist or killer,not black males.
Dna does not lie..
I still can't figure if justus4 is actually that paranoid about 'the man' coming after him or if he's just stupid enough to actually believe some of that propaganda. I guess we should consider that the thug being held on these heinous crimes is the real victim. It is what it is...
I had enough fun yesterday with the racial thing, he just looks like a criminal to me. All of the evidence points to his guilt, not my conclusions. When you say "The colored picture shown above does not fit the profile of a serial rapist" are talking about the picture or the criminal? Well, judging from your post you need to go back to about 5th grade...
Justus4, where do you get this stuff from? It used to be some what entertaining, for lack of a better word. Now it is nauseating. I am inclined to agree with some who doubt that you are even Black. However, mentally disturbed fits.
Message, are you serious? You ever heard of Hill Rivers or John Jefferson?
If he's guilty than he should be punished. I also agree with Justus. The jury mentality is going to be if he's guilty of one he's guilty of all. They charge him first with the less serious crimes and work their way up. How much of tax payers money will be used trying him multiple times. Charge him with the most serious crime, murder, and be done with it.
DNA evidence allegedly connects Mr. Clay to attacks on three other women who reported being beaten, kicked and sexually assaulted in May 2000 and June 2003, this is why he is labeled a serial rapist. Mr. Clay may not fit the profile of a seriat rapist but that doesn't mean he's not one. Geeze, some people will go to any lengths to defend a black man. Justus4, when they say "unrelated", they are talking about the assault charges on Mr. Barnes and Ms. Wright occurred as one incident, the alledged rapes and assaults on the three women occurred at another time, and the beating and resulting death of Ms. Murphy occurred on another occassion. Please use your brain.
LOL and some people will go to any lengths to defend a WHITE man, an Asian, Latino, Jewish, Iranian, Mexican, Chinese, so what's your point InChristLove?
If the DNA fits, justus4 still wants us to acquit. I think the DA is just doing the prudent thing. With the calibre of the jurors we get in RC and their tendency to let "particular segments" go no matter what the evidence says, I think the DA is smart, and legally correct, to not put all of her eggs in one basket.
My point jackfruitpaper, that because this suspect is a black male, "message" and "justus4" defends this guy and their justification for why he is being "dumped on" is because serial rapist are mostly "white males", therefore this guy has to be innocent and it's all racist discrimination.
Then maybe you should have said some people will go to any lengths to defend MEN who rape and mabye left the statement BLACK man part out of your post. When you singled out some people will go to any lengths to defend a BLACK man was that a straight shot to justus directly?
justus4 you need learn how the judicial system works. He will be tried separately on the 17 different counts and ach count will stand independent of one another based on evidence and the consensus of 12 independent peers. After you master our judicial system then maybe try to figure out how DNA tracking is actual science unlike your skewed opinions.
This should not be about race, but I am sure before the day is over we can expect folks to make this about him being black just like you guys always do... I am just happy this violent criminal is locked up and with luck he will be found guilty and given life without parole.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
