TUSCUMBIA, Ala. (WHNT) — A 73-year-old Tuscumbia man charged with killing his neighbor was set to go on trial next Monday, but the trial date has now been pushed back to December.
Jerry Wayne Fisher has argued that the deadly shooting of John Kevin Farley in May 2024 was in self-defense. In January, the trial court denied that claim.
There’s also an unusual backdrop to this case.
Our sister station, WOOD TV, in Grand Rapids, Mich., has reported Fisher’s estranged wife disappeared in 1978. She was supposed to meet with Fisher that day, and has never been seen again.
Ten years later, a jury convicted Fisher of manslaughter, and he went to prison. But a Michigan appeals court later overturned his conviction, citing a lack of evidence because a body hadn’t been found.
Fisher eventually moved to Alabama. Court testimony shows Fisher and his neighbor, John Kevin Farley, didn’t get along. Farley went over to Fisher’s property in May 2024 and was shot dead.
Fisher argues the killing was in self-defense, but the court denied that claim. In its order, the court pointed to autopsy evidence that showed Farley had been shot twice from behind with a shotgun. He was initially indicted for manslaughter, but the charge was later upgraded to murder.
At a hearing today, Fisher asked the court to remove his ankle monitor, saying it was contributing to his health problems.
In its order on the self-defense claim, the court also pointed out that no evidence was presented about where Farley’s body was found, how close it was to Fisher’s front door, or whether Farley was armed.
Fisher recently got a new attorney, which led the court to move his trial date back.
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