FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2020
For media inquiries only, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Wilcox County Murder Conviction
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction of Sylvester Elliot, 29,
for murder. Elliot was convicted in Wilcox County Circuit Court on January 27, 2020, for the murder of Clifford Bonner.
The evidence at trial showed that on September 3, 2017, a social event was held by a local hunting club in Wilcox County. Elliot attempted to enter the building and was stopped by Clifford Bonner, who was a security guard for the event. Elliot was armed with a handgun and refused to leave when ordered to do so by Bonner. An altercation ensued, at which point Elliot drew his weapon and shot Bonner, who was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.
Wilcox County District Attorney Michael Jackson’s office successfully prosecuted this case and obtained a guilty verdict. Elliot was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Elliot sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm Elliot’s conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued Friday, October 9.
Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General Holly Walterscheid for her successful work on this case, and thanked District Attorney Michael Jackson and his staff for their valuable assistance in defending the murder conviction.
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