Jamie Hood says he wants to take the stand and tell a courtroom about what happened the day police say he shot and killed an Athens police officer.
Authorities allege that in March 2011, Hood shot and killed Athens-Clarke County Senior Police Officer Elmer "Buddy" Christian and injured another officer.
Since the night he was arrested, Hood has repeatedly admitted to the shooting. He is facing the death penalty in the case.
"I want to tell the Christian family the truth about this situation, because if somebody loses their life, especially a police officer, they should at least have the truth told about it," Hood told FOX 5's Justin Gray via telephone on Tuesday.
Courtroom outbursts have become a regular occurrence with Hood. His court-appointed attorneys want a judge to find him mentally incompetent to stand trial. That's why Hood sent a five page, handwritten note to his mother, claiming he is mentally competent.
"I wrestled with it but still love him," said Azalea Hood, Jamie's mother. "I found out through this ordeal what unconditional love is.
Hood's family wants his court-appointed lawyers removed and the attempts to have him declared mentally incompetent stopped.
"I don't want nobody to have no sympathy for me, I want the truth to be told. That's what I want," said Jamie Hood.
Hood is expected to be back in court on Wednesday.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:48 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:48:00 GMT
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma.
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma. Those shelters could mean the difference between life and death when faced with one of these powerful storms.
A federal court has struck down Fayette County's at-large method of electing members to certain county offices, saying the method was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
A federal court has struck down Fayette County's at-large method of electing members to certain county offices, saying the method was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Two Clark Atlanta University students who call themselves brothers despite being from opposite sides of the world have graduated as valedictorian and salutatorian.
Two Clark Atlanta University students who call themselves brothers despite being from opposite sides of the world have graduated as valedictorian and salutatorian.
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