Convicted murderer uses law degree to represent himself in request for fair trial

AUGUSTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After eight hours of testimony, a Richmond County judge decided to continue the hearing for Stephen McDaniel at a later date.

The convicted murderer of Mercer Law School graduate, Lauren Giddings, appeared before Judge John Flythe, representing himself. In February, Stephen McDaniel, filed a petition to go before a judge, claiming he did not have a fair trial. He walked into the courtroom handcuffed, with a cart stacked with transcripts and evidence to help him prove his case for a fair trial.

McDaniel subpoenaed 5 witnesses. Two of them included his former attorneys, Floyd Buford, and Franklin Hogue. McDaniel claims his attorneys did not listen to his recommendations and he was forced to plead guilty. Buford told McDaniel he thought he was innocent until investigators found video of McDaniel peeping through Giddings’ apartment. Buford says that’s when McDaniel made a very detailed confession to how he killed and dismembered Giddings’ body. He described all of this as Giddings’ family and friends were in the courtroom Friday.

The District Attorney’s Chief Assistant Nancy Malcor was also called to the stand. District Attorney, David Cooke, Franklin Hogue nor Woody Marshall made it to the stand like McDaniel wanted.

In 2014, McDaniel confessed to killing Giddings in 2011.