Day three in the murder trial for the man accused of killing Tara Baker got underway Wednesday. The proceedings saw defense attorney Ahmad Crews calling for a mistrial twice.
“Granting a of a mistrial by the court is a very, of course, as you are well aware, extreme option,” Judge Lott said. “And it is done in very limited circumstances, where the matters that have been presented in court are of such a prejudicial level that the defendant cannot receive a fair trial. With regard to your motion, you have not sufficiently shown this court that that exists, so I’m going to deny your motion.”
Western Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Lisa Lott denied both requests.
Crews is representing Edrick Faust, who is accused of killing Baker in 2001.
Judge Lott addressed Crews outside of the jury’s presence.
“Having a slight tantrum every time you get a ruling you don’t agree with is really not appropriate.”
Prosecutors say the University of Georgia law student was beaten, raped, and stabbed before her home was set on fire to destroy evidence. It was a cold case for more than two decades until DNA evidence led authorities to file charges in May 2024 against Faust, who once lived in the same neighborhood as Baker, but was never identified as a possible suspect.
Faust faces multiple charges, including murder, arson, and aggravated assault.
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This article appears on Now Georgia in partnership with WUGA News
