Grove Hill, AL – A Clarke County jury has convicted Jarquise Hayes of murder in the 2020 shooting death of Nicholas Bettis, following a five-day trial that culminated in roughly three and a half hours of deliberation. The verdict was reached after detailed presentations by both the prosecution and defense teams.
The incident, which led to Hayes’ conviction, occurred on the evening of November 25, 2020, in the front yard of the victim’s mother’s residence on Tallahatta Springs Road in Thomasville. Testimonies revealed that Hayes had been concealed in bushes across the street when he fired 10 shots at Bettis, who died from the wounds. This event unfolded just one day before Thanksgiving, particularly heightening the tragedy for Bettis’s family and friends.
Prosecuting the case were District Attorney Stephen K. Winters and Chief Assistant District Attorney Bill McCorquodale. They presented compelling evidence suggesting the intentional nature of Hayes’s actions, arguing effectively for the jury’s guilty verdict. The victim’s home, where the incident occurred, became a poignant scene of loss for the local community.
In his defense, Hayes was represented by Victor Reville and Hunter Horton from the Reville Law Firm, based in Birmingham. The defense’s strategy focused on placing Hayes away from the crime scene at the time of the murder, suggesting there had been a misidentification in the chaotic aftermath.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for October 1, 2024. The Honorable J. Perry Newton, who presided over the trial, will issue Hayes’s sentence. Depending on the findings, this could result in significant prison time for Hayes.
Beyond the immediate legal proceedings, the case has drawn attention to the broader issues of gun violence and public safety. District Attorney Winters expressed gratitude towards the investigative efforts of Jarmarcus Robinson and Ron Baggette along with the Thomasville Police Department, whose diligent work was pivotal in gathering the evidence crucial for the prosecution.
As the community awaits the sentencing, there is a reflective mood around the implications of this case on local crime prevention and law enforcement’s role. The finality of the sentencing may offer some closure to those affected by the tragic events of that fateful day before Thanksgiving in 2020, but the dialogue on violence and community safety is likely to endure well into the future.