ATLANTA, Ga. (WALB) - Today, Wednesday, August 27, the state Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of a Lowndes County man, who was sentenced to life plus 5 years in 2023.

This comes after a jury found 20-year-old Travis Graham, Jr. guilty in the shooting death of an 18-year-old in July 2020.

According to court records, more than 30 people showed up to Graham’s home after a 4th of July party in 2020, which started a fight that police say Graham was involved in. 18-year-old Jeffery Franklin was shot and killed that night.

During his trial, based on advice of counsel, they argued that Graham acted in self-defense. But Graham was found guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm charge.

Fallon Harris, Graham’s mother, believes her son’s attorney, Converse Bright, was ineffective during the trial, which is why they asked for an appeal in January 2025.

Harris has now hired Brian Steele, who was lead counsel in the state’s longest criminal trial involving rapper Jeffery “Young Thug” Williams.

Harris, Graham’s mother said, “Mr. Steele has brought everything to light to say this what has not been done. And we need to stand for justice. He needs a far trial or even a dismissal because he’s innocent.”

In Wednesday’s hearing, Steele argued that evidence shows Graham was trying to prevent trespass of his property which is defense of property, other than habitation. Stand Your Ground law in Georgia allows the use of force to protect property to stop a threat.

Steele argues that Section 16-3-23 of Georgia Code would allow justification of use of force in defense of property after Graham attempted to keep the trespassers from coming inside of the home or near the property. But the state argues that evidence shows it was only a fight that did not have to escalate to aggravated assault.

Steele said in the hearing, “You don’t need a serious violent felony for 16-3-23 to apply, all you need is a forceable felony. It doesn’t say violent felony, it says forceable felony...they are on his yard and attempting to commit a forceable felony that is all that has to be done he can kill.”

This argument introduces the issues found in Graham’s previous trial of whether self defense was a strong enough and what led counsel to chose that based on evidence.

During the hearing Presiding Justice Sarah Hawkins Warren said, “To your earlier point there is conflicting evidence being the jury gets to make those decisions but what we’re trying to figure out is what is the effect of trial counsel not having secured that instruction and would that have made a difference under these circumstances.”

The State responded, “Again, I don’t believe it would have made a difference because he does have the ability to defend himself and defend others at his residence.”

Justice Charles J. Bethel said, “But then you have to prove you weren’t the aggressor and all the other things that come with defense of self and others whereas this just means if I have belief that they were attacking a dwelling or...whether or not I started it or not I don’t have to deal with that.”

The State responded, “That is true. Yes sir.”

The state Supreme Court can make a ruling after an oral argument one to five months after oral arguments.

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