Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has requested a state appeals court to overturn the conviction of former police officer Anthony Fox in the beating death of a man back in 2019, U.S. News reported.
According to Mississippi Attorney General Fitch’s written statement, Fox instructed Robinson to exit his vehicle after observing what appeared to be a drug deal taking place inside. (Photo: Magnolia Tribune)
Mississippi Attorney General Files Motion
In the filed documents on Monday, Mississippi Attorney General Fitch argued that the prosecutors had failed to provide sufficient evidence for the key element of culpable negligence manslaughter, which involves demonstrating “or utter indifference to, wanton disregard of, the safety of human life.”
The victim, 62-year-old George Robinson, was forcibly removed from his vehicle and subdued by three officers. Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart classified the cause of death as a homicide resulting from blunt-force trauma.
According to Mississippi Attorney General Fitch’s written statement, Fox instructed Robinson to exit his vehicle after observing what appeared to be a drug deal taking place inside. Once outside the car, Robinson resisted arrest and struggled against Fox and two other police officers.
Mississippi Attorney General Fitch’s statement further describes the events: “The officers maneuvered him to the ground and continued trying to pull his hands apart. Robinson dragged his hands to his mouth, where he ate what he was trying to hide. He then stopped struggling.”
Media outlets had previously reported that Fox was accused of forcefully removing Robinson from his car and striking him in the head and chest while the police were searching for a murder suspect.
Former Officer’s Manslaughter Conviction
Last year, a Hinds County jury found Fox guilty of culpable negligence manslaughter in connection with Robinson’s death. Circuit Judge Adrienne Wooten subsequently sentenced former officer Fox to five years in prison, with 15 years of the sentence suspended.
Currently, Anthony Fox, 38, is being held at the Madison County Jail, as indicated by records from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
The other two Jackson police officers involved in the incident, Lincoln Lampley and Desmond Barney, were acquitted of second-degree murder charges related to Robinson’s death.
Anthony Fox was recognized as the Officer of the Year by the Jackson Police Department in 2014.
During the sentencing hearing, Clinton Police Chief Ford Hammond testified in support of Fox, describing him as “a perfect police officer” and asserting that the city was “better and safer because of Anthony Fox.”
Mississippi Attorney General Fitch pointed out that Robinson sustained only a “small, superficial abrasion on his forehead” and had no other visible injuries from the altercation.
Robinson, who had pre-existing health issues and was taking medication, experienced a seizure several hours later and died two days afterward due to bleeding in his brain.
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