Wednesday, April 14, 2004
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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 |
| Two held in murder case By JOHN MUNFORD Two local men are being held without bond for the murder of Fayette resident Terry Durham, 44, in what is being described by deputies as a drug-related home invasion in north Fayette County late Friday night. Of the two suspects, Tommy Ingram, 51, admits to stabbing Durham, although he claims it was in self defense, said Lt. Col. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. The other suspect, Michael Charles Phillips, 43, is charged because he brought Durham to the house at 133 Butler Road ultimately to attack or rob another person, Jordan said. Phillips, of 292 Longview Road, Fayetteville, also ordered Durham to attack Ingram moments before Ingram retaliated with the fatal knife wound to Durham’s chest, Jordan said. Ingram, of 128 Homers Place, Fayetteville told detectives he stabbed Durham in self-defense, and he has several wounds where he was apparently hit with the metal pipe, Jordan said. But detectives later became suspicious after learning that Ingram hid the knife, the chief detective added. The knife was later found in a wooded area near the residence, Jordan said. “If you’re going to take the position that it was self-defense, you don’t need to hide the murder weapon,” Jordan said. Authorities are not naming the person whom Phillips and Durham intended to attack, but Jordan said that person hid in a closet in the house while the struggle between Ingram and Durham took place, Jordan added. The unnamed person did have some crack cocaine on his person while at the house, Jordan confirmed. “He’s the one they were after,” Jordan said. The incident where the altercation took place is off Ga. Highway 85 north near Kenwood Road. Jordan said drug activity was known to take place at that residence previously. Phillips, who fled the murder scene, was arrested Monday by members of the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Jordan said. Both suspects remained in jail Tuesday as their bond request cannot be considered by a magistrate judge. Georgia law requires those charged with murder to have their bond determined by a Superior Court judge.
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