A Fayette County man charged with killing a local businessman in July pled not guilty to the charges in court Thursday morning.

Charles William Sangster, 46, of Ebenezer Road, Fayetteville, is charged with murdering Robert Groninger, 43, of Fayetteville at the location of Groninger’s business: Big Tree Tree Service. Police said Sangster shot Groninger several times.

Prosecutors have announced they will seek the death penalty for Sangster after taking into account the facts of the case.

Deputies recovered the alleged murder weapon at the scene. Sangster was arrested minutes after the shooting by Sheriff Randall Johnson, who lives not far from the business in north Fayette County.

The possibility of the death penalty means the case will proceed at a much slower pace than other murder trials. Georgia law requires a minimum amount of standards to be met — including special court hearings — to protect the rights of defendants who could face death in case of a conviction.

Sangster is represented by Chris Adams of the Georgia Capital Defense office and local attorney Mike Martin.

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