FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
August 11, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES THAT COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
UPHOLDS CHAMBERS COUNTY MURDER CONVICTION
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday upheld the murder conviction of Aaron
Briscoe. Briscoe, 28, of Valley, was convicted in the Chambers County Circuit Court in
November of 2014 for the murder of Gerald Todd.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on the evening of December 8, 2011,
Briscoe discovered that his home had been burglarized. After obtaining a description of
the suspect from his neighbors, Briscoe concluded that Gerald Todd was the person
who had burglarized his home, and he reported the matter to the police. Later that
evening, Briscoe travelled to various locations attempting to find Todd, and eventually
encountered Todd walking down the street. A man who was giving Briscoe a ride,
Kenneth Elder, testified that the two men appeared to be smiling and talking as they
walked towards Elder’s vehicle. However, as they got closer, Elder saw Briscoe’s arm go
up, heard a gunshot and saw Todd fall. Afterwards, Briscoe got back into the vehicle
with Elder and the two men sped away. Elder testified that Briscoe was crying and
hysterical and stated, ” I told these people I don’t play; don’t mess with me.” Todd later
died as a result of the gunshot wound in his head.
The case was prosecuted at trial by Chambers County District Attorney E. Paul
Jones’ office. Briscoe was sentenced to 55 years in prison and subsequently 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 the
conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued on Friday, August 7.
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorney General William
Dill of the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division for his successful work in this
case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
