ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — [UPDATE: April 9, 4:30 p.m.:] Michael Nix was found guilty on all four counts on Thursday, April 9.

The jury deliberated for less than a hour.

A Dougherty County jury found Nix guilty of the following:

1. Malice murder
2. Felony murder
3. Aggravated assault
4. Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime

Michael Nix faces life without the possibility of parole plus five years to be served consecutively. Meaning, at minimum, he will spend the next 30 years in prison before the Department of Pardon and Parole’s even begins to consider releasing him.

District Attorney Greg Edwards says he believes the verdict is justified, noting that his team was able to effectively rebut the defense’s claims.

“We were able to meet the arguments that were presented by the defense that were an attempt to just tell the jury they’re not seeing what they’re seeing, said Edwards.” But they were not successful in that, because everything was pretty clear, it was supplemented by the testimony from those witnesses who were physically there to give the information.”

Nix has been in custody since the night of Oct. 4, 2024, when the incident happened. He’s expected to be sentenced within the next month.

Court began Thursday morning with Judge Victoria Darrisaw ruling on a motion made by the defense Wednesday.

In that motion, Michael Nix’s defense attorneys requested that Judge Darrisaw drop the malice murder charge down to voluntary manslaughter.

Ultimately, Judge Darrisaw ruled for the malice murder charge to remain.

“The Georgia Supreme Court has held that being in fear that someone is going to pull a gun, nor fighting, are the types of provocation which demand the voluntary manslaughter charge. According to Mr. Nix’s testimony, Mr. Odom threatened to beat him up, and throw him in a ditch if he didn’t leave. 

This was a conditional threat, at most, but I understand that according to Mr. nix he perceived the words as a death threat and invited confrontation to protect himself. The court finds as a matter of law… it is not appropriate for me to give the requested charge on voluntary manslaughter.”

Immediately after that ruling, the jury was brought into the courtroom, and closing arguments from the state began.

In closing arguments, Dougherty County District Attorney, Greg Edwards, explained each charge that Michael Nix currently faces to the jury:

• Malice Murder
• Felony Murder
• Aggravated Assault
• Possession of a Firearm during the commission of a crime

Edwards pointed out inconsistencies in Nix testimony, noting that he in fact intended to shoot him.

“This murder was senseless, cowardly, and bathed in falsity by this defendant claiming that he didn’t know what was going on and didn’t know what he was doing,” Edwards said. “He knew exactly what he was doing, he chased this victim, shot him in the back, and the maliciousness of his attack is shown by the fact that he jumps on the victim and continues to beat on him.”

The defense did something similar in their closing arguments, walking jurors through each charge and arguing the state failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, Nix, committed the murder with malice.

“This was mutual combat that sadly got out of hand. It’s not malice murder. It’s not felony murder,” defense attorney Del Percilla said. “The state cannot prove the elements of those crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The defense also explained why they believe some of the witnesses called by the state aren’t credible.

Closing arguments concluded at about 11:30 a.m.

Case background

According to the Albany Police Department (APD), officers responded to Break Time Pub & Billiards at around 10:32 p.m. in reference to a shooting on Oct. 4, 2024.

Upon arrival, Odom was found in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the back. According to APD, he was taken to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

An incident report revealed that a physical altercation took place after Nix was escorted out of the business by Odom. The report also stated that Nix was seen pulling out a gun and chasing Odom before firing a shot and striking him in the lower back.

Nix was taken to the Dougherty County Jail, where he has remained since 2024.

ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Oct. 6, 2024

Trial Timeline

Start of Trial Monday Morning: Motions Filed

Dougherty County Superior Court Judge Victoria Darrisaw heard two motions filed by the defense Monday morning, marking the start of Nix’s trial.

In the first motion, the defense requested that portions of surveillance video be excluded from the trial. The second motion requested that statements Nix made during his arrest be suppressed.

Judge Darrisaw ruled against both motions. All surveillance video will be shown, and statements made during Nix’s arrest will be played aloud for the jury to hear during the trial.

Jury selection began around 1:30 p.m., following a recess after hearing motions. It paused for the day around 5:15 p.m.

Tuesday: A jury is selected, opening statements delivered

Jury selection resumed on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. The courtroom heard from potential jurors explaining why they believe they should be excused—some said they know Michael Nix through the pawn shop he operated.

The jury was selected from the pool of potential jurors at about 11:30 a.m. Court was then dismissed for lunch until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Immediately following the reading, Dougherty County’s District Attorney, Greg Edwards, began delivering opening statements on behalf of the state.

In his opening statements, he told the jury the state believes the evidence will show that a physical altercation occurred at Break Time Pub & Billiards between the defendant, Michael Nix, and the victim, Lorne Odom.

DA Edwards said that in that physical altercation, Nix threw the first punch at Odom. Sometime during the fight, DA Edwards said Nix pulled out a gun, and Odom put his hands up and asked Nix not to shoot him.

Opening statements from the defense followed, and they played surveillance video of the physical altercation outside of the pool hall. They said the video showed Odom was, in fact, the aggressor, and did not back off until Nix pulled his gun out.

Following the defense’s opening statements, the state then called witnesses to the stand.

In total, four witnesses took the stand on Tuesday: the manager of Break Time Pub & Billiards, an employee and two regulars. They each described what they remember from the night of Oct. 4, 2024, when the death of Lorne Odom took place.

The manager, Jodi Jacobs, took the stand first. She told jurors Nix was arguing with people inside the establishment, which led staff to ask him to leave. She said Odom was not security but saw Nix needed to be escorted out and took it upon himself to do so. She also described what she remembered about the physical altercation between the defendant and Odom outside, where the shooting happened.

State: “Did you know Mike had a gun inside Breaktime?”

Jacobs: “No. I would have never let Lorne walk him out of there.”

State: “Have you ever seen Mike with a pistol before?”

Jacobs: “Yes. He brought it into Breaktime once. I told him, you can’t bring that in here.”

State: “Did you allow patrons to bring guns?”

Jacobs:" “No.”

The defense then cross-examined Jacobs about what she saw during the fight and who threw certain punches, asking in particular whether she saw Odom throw a punch at Nix.

Defense: “Did you see Mr. Odom with his left hand grab Mr. Nix’s right arm before he took the swing?”

Jacobs: “I don’t recall.”

Defense: “Did you see him shove Mr. Nix before?”

Jacobs: “No, sir, I didn’t see that. I don’t recall.”

Defense: “You only saw the swing?”

Jacobs: “I did see the swing.”

Another notable witness was David Wells. He testified that he went outside with Odom and Nix, trying to break up the fight and get Nix to go home. He said the two were tussling, then Nix went to his car to get a gun. Wells testified that’s when he backed off and saw Nix shoot Odom in the back.

“I mean, I’m watching a man beg for his life, and I’m yelling stop,” Wells said. “He proceeded to shoot him in his back.”

Wells also testified that after Odom was shot, Nix pistol-whipped him, punched him and spat on him.

During cross-examination, the defense questioned Wells’ involvement in trying to break up the fight, pointing to a moment in surveillance video where the defense said Wells was hovering over Nix.

Defense: “I’m just asking, are you standing over Mike?”

Wells: “No. You’re freezing the frame and asking me to answer a question. I’m barely even there. I’m trying to get between the guys. Don’t turn this around on me.”

Court concluded for the day Tuesday around 5:15 p.m.

Wednesday: Michael Nix takes the stand

Court resumed Wednesday morning in the case of a man accused of fatally shooting another man outside of Break Time Pub & Billiards with expert witness, Dr. Anthony Clark, on the stand. The jury was not present to start.

Michael Nix, 53, faces charges of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in connection with the death of 36-year-old Lorne Odom.

Dr. Clark was pre-questioned by the state and defense prior to his testimony in front of the jury. This is because the defense wanted to exclude certain testimony surrounding Dr. Clark’s finding’s in the autopsy performed on Lorne Odom, the victim.

Ten witnesses have taken the stand in two days of witness testimony, called by the state.

Wednesday started with a GBI medical examiner testifying that without the gunshot wound, other injuries Odom received during the physical altercation were severe.

“In this case, the gunshot wound is the predominant trauma that resulted in the man’s death. And if he hadn’t been shot, this could have blossomed into being more bleeding on the brain and causing him to be severely injured.”

Two APD officers were among the ten witnesses who took the stand Wednesday.

One officer stated that everyone on scene told him the defendant shot Odom. Another testified that Nix admitted to the shooting when being detained the night of the incident.

The court went into recess at 12 p.m. When the jury returns, the state plans to call one more witness. The defense said before lunch, the only witness they plan to call is the defendant, Michael Nix.

After calling 11 witnesses to the stand, the state has rested its case.

The defendant, Michael Nix, was on the stand from about 2:35 p.m. until 3:35 p.m. After his testimony, the defense rested as well, calling only Nix as a witness.

Nix testified about the sequence of events that he remembers took place on Oct. 4, 2024. He explained that he was asked to leave Break Time Pub & Billiards after allegedly having conflicts with several people inside.

Nix said he remembers Lorne Odom escorting him out and then threatening him if he refused to leave.

“He said, get out of here or they’ll find you across the street in the ditch in the morning.”

In the state’s cross examination, District Attorney Greg Edwards doubted that accusation against Odom. As Edwards said, several people testified throughout the trial that Odom was a very polite, calm, person who was not a threat to anyone.

Edwards: “You and Lorne have had friendly relationships in the past. Is that true?”

Nix: “Yes, sir.”

E: “And everybody has been saying, and has testified, has indicated, that Lorne was not make any aggressive statements to you in their presence. Is that true?”

N: “Yes, sir.”

The defense also motioned to have the malice murder charge dropped to voluntary manslaughter.

Currently, Nix faces malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The jury was sent home for the day at about 3:40 p.m.

Court concluded for the day, and is expected to resume at 9am.

Then, Judge Victoria Darrisaw will make a ruling on if the malice murder charge will be dropped to voluntary manslaughter.

Closing arguments are expected to begin after, and the jury will be charged to deliberate.

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