A Clayton County murder case that grabbed national headlines will go to trial Monday.
"America's Most Wanted" helped police catch Wisdom Jeffrey earlier this year. He's accused of killing his wife, Corrissa Friends, in 2010.
Friends was a new mother and only 21 years old when a gunman shot her three times in her Clayton County home.
Charles and Patricia Friends are raising their granddaughter, Casey, who is now 3 years old. They hope the trial will bring closure.
Because the Friends are scheduled to be called as witnesses, they are not allowed to attend the trial.
"It's not over yet. It's like it happened yesterday that it happened. I miss her. I miss her so much."
"It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt very bad, but I have to get through it. And you know what I have on my side is the truth," said Patricia Friends.
Mrs. Friends will testify that just hours before her granddaughter's murder, she spoke to an angry Jeffrey on the phone. Prosecutors will then try to prove that Jeffrey walked into his estranged wife's Riverdale apartment and shot her three times with a shotgun.
"I don't want him to ever see the light of day again. So if that's life plus 70, or life with no chance of parole, or whatever it is in the state of Georgia that would put him behind bars for the rest of his life, I would be comfortable with," Charles Friends said.
Comfort is something the friends have had very little of since Corrissa's death. Jeffrey, a prime suspect from the very beginning, disappeared shortly after the murder for more than a year. The GBI told the family to keep an extremely low profile.
Casey has never been allowed to go to a public daycare for that reason. Even today, her grandparents are hesitant to say much publicly about her.
"She's doing fine. She's very well adjusted, well rounded, and very intelligent," said Charles Friends.
After the trial, another family member will be able to formally adopt Casey, hopefully giving the family closure.
"We're going to get justice. Finally, we're going to get justice," said Charles Friends.
Jeffrey's murder trial will begin Monday morning at the Clayton County courthouse. The prosecutor handling the case says it should last no more than a week.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:33 AM EDT2013-05-23 15:33:57 GMT
The fox responsible for biting two Newton County elementary school students while they played on their school's playground remains on the loose.
The fox that bit two Newton County elementary school students while they played on the playground is still on the loose. Animal control authorities tell FOX 5 someone from Rocky Plains Elementary School reported a fox sighting on campus one day before the boys were attacked.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:31 AM EDT2013-05-23 12:31:23 GMT
Later today, Georgia State Rep. Tyrone Brooks is expected to speak publicly about his recent arrest on fraud and tax charges. Brooks was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday.
Later today, Georgia State Rep. Tyrone Brooks is expected to speak publicly about his recent arrest on fraud and tax charges. Brooks was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:32:32 GMT
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It's also a great time to thank veterans for their service to our country—veterans just like World War II American hero Lew Fern.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:56 AM EDT2013-05-23 04:56:30 GMT
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:55:59 GMT
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home.
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home. Just one day later, some of her family members were in Oklahoma near where the tornado hit.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:50 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:50:14 GMT
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground.
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground. Both victims are 6-year-old boys who are in kindergarten at Rocky Plains Elementary School, where the attack happened.
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Wisdom Jeffrey is accused of killing his wife, Corrissa Friends.
