DOUGHERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Expert witnesses for the state continued in the case of Jenna Colley, a Dougherty County woman accused of killing her boyfriend, Ken Covin, in March 2024. Colley is charged in the stabbing death of Covin, the father of her two children.

Colley is facing the following charges:

• Felony Murder
• Aggravated Assault - Family Violence
• Possession of a Cutting Tool During the Commission of a Crime

ER Doctor Testifies About Colley’s Injuries

Court resumed Thursday morning with the state calling an emergency room doctor from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital as an expert witness. The doctor testified about her examination of Colley following the incident, noting that Colley had only superficial abrasions and a cut lip—injuries not severe enough to require stitches or hospital admission.

During cross-examination, the defense questioned the doctor about the origin of Colley’s injuries, a key point in Colley’s self-defense claim in the case.

Key Testimony From ER Doctor:

Q: “Was Ms. Colley examined for the presence of a cut on her skin?”

A: “Yes, sir.”

Q: “What were your findings with regard to a cut on her skin?”

A: “As I recall from the review of the record, there were no frank lacerations—maybe some mild superficial abrasions."

Q: “But none requiring surgical closure?”

A: “All right.”

Q: “Were there any cuts requiring bandaging?”

A: “Not that I recall.”

Q: “Was there an examination done on her neck?”

A: “Yes, sir.”

Q: “What were the results of that physical examination?”

A: “If I recall, there was no midline tenderness. We assessed that to check for any bony injury. There may have been some paraspinous tenderness—tenderness in the muscles of the neck—but no midline tenderness.”

The defense also highlighted that the discharge instructions noted Colley’s injuries were “due to a physical assault,” suggesting she may have been defending herself during the encounter with Covin.

Medical Examiner Describes Victim’s Injuries

Following the ER doctor’s testimony, the state called a medical examiner with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who detailed the injuries present on Covin’s body. Pictures taken during the autopsy were displayed, allowing the examiner to detail his findings. He described a severe wound on the right side of Covin’s chest that penetrated his lung, the likely cause of death, as well as defensive wounds on the body.

Q: “In this particular case of the autopsy of Ken Cole, had you observed any injuries that were consistent with him grabbing a knife?”

A: “Yes, sir. We showed the pictures already.”

Q: “Were those the hand injuries?”

A: “That’s correct.”

Q: “Were there any injuries that you saw in your photographs that were consistent with defensive injuries?”

A: “I would say the hand injuries, yes, sir.”

Q: “Anything beyond the hand injury?”

A: “Possibly the forearms, the left forearm.”

This portion of the trial proved emotionally difficult for the Covin family as graphic images of his injuries were presented in court. Family members became visibly emotional, causing a brief disturbance that prompted a recess.

The defense subsequently filed a mistrial motion, but the judge ultimately denied the request, ruling that the family’s emotional response was a natural human reaction. The judge warned the family about any additional outbursts and instructed them to remove themselves from the courtroom if the evidence became too graphic.

GBI agent discusses knife wounds, weight difference in cross-examination

GBI Special Agent Bryan Smith testified about the sequence of events and injuries found on the body in the Colley-Covin trial.

The state questioned Smith about cuts on Covin’s hands, asking whether they resulted from holding a knife or attempting to disarm someone. During cross-examination, the defense explored the weight difference between Colley and Covin and raised questions about self-defense.

Smith said cuts from knife struggles can appear in various places that may not make sense pathologically.

“When someone is— two people are struggling over a knife, you’re going to get cuts in a lot of different places that may not make sense pathologically,” Smith said.

When asked if the cuts were consistent with someone voluntarily holding a knife, Smith said that would not be a logical conclusion.

The defense presented a hypothetical scenario involving a 200-pound male and a 150-pound female, emphasizing the 50-pound weight difference.

“Mass is a thing,” Smith said when questioned about the physical disparity.

Smith agreed that muscle is also a factor and that someone without protection has limited options when facing physical force.

After Smith’s testimony, both the state and defense rested their cases.

Family Reaction

According to Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards, in March 2024, Colley showed up to Covin’s residence and demanded to be let inside. Edwards said that while Covin didn’t want to let her in, he eventually did, and that’s when the arguing started.

Covin’s sister, Kelsey Jones, said her brother kept a brave face and didn’t show what he was going through. She said some of the details and facts come as a surprise.

“He was a devoted father of eight, a beloved father. Not only was he a father, he was a leader in our community here in Albany. He was a coach for our youth football team, The Seahawks. He was more than just a father, and a pillar in our family, but he was a pillar in our community. I’m ready to see the outcome, just ready for justice.”

Jones said the energy in court is anxious. She said her family and herself hold their breath at times as photos are displayed and testimony is given.

Trial Continues

The trial is ongoing, with additional medical examiner testimony expected in subsequent court sessions. The case continues to draw attention as the state builds its case against Colley, while the defense maintains that she acted in self-defense.

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