SEARCH

Copeland v. State

Defendant's oral motion to suppress evidence on the first day of trial did not satisfy the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 17-5-30 b or Uniform Superior Court Rule 31.1.

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Michael Copeland was convicted of the malice murder of Dequlius Douglas and aggravated assaults on Annie Nesmith and Taurus Banks.1 He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder conviction and two consecutive 20-year terms for the aggravated assault convictions. On appeal he argues that the trial court erred in denying his oral motion to suppress firearms seized in a search of his home. Because Copeland’s oral motion to suppress was made on the first day of trial, it failed to satisfy the requirements of OCGA § 17-5-30 b and Uniform Superior Court Rule 31.1. We therefore hold that the trial court did not err in denying the motion and affirm Copeland’s convictions.

1. On October 27, 1993 Copeland and five other people drove around searching for Dequlius Douglas and Travis Nesmith to avenge an attempted armed robbery. Spotting several people congregated at an ice cream truck, Copeland leapt out of his vehicle, pressed his pistol against Taurus Banks’s face, and asked, “who is DQ” Numerous eyewitnesses testified that once Dequlius Douglas identified himself as “DQ,” Copeland began firing his weapon. Douglas was shot in the back and died as a result of this wound. Annie Nesmith was struck in the hand by a bullet fragment. The state’s firearms examiner testified that five 9-millimeter cartridge cases found at the crime scene were fired from an Intratec 9-millimeter pistol. Eyewitnesses testified that Copeland’s weapon was a 9-millimeter pistol.

More From ALM

Premium Subscription

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now

Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now

Bundle Subscriptions

Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now

From Data to Decisions

Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends.

Exclusive Depth and Reach.

Law.com Compass includes access to our exclusive industry reports, combining the unmatched expertise of our analyst team with ALM’s deep bench of proprietary information to provide insights that can’t be found anywhere else.

Big Pictures and Fine Details

Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms’ financials, staffing, clients, news and events.

Southeastern Legal Awards 2025

May 01, 2025
Atlanta, GA

The Daily Report is honoring those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession.

Learn More

Complex Claims & Litigation Forum 2025

February 24, 2025 - February 26, 2025
Las Vegas, NV

This conference aims to help insurers and litigators better manage complex claims and litigation.

Learn More

Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2025

March 24, 2025
New York, NY

Recognizing innovation in the legal technology sector for working on precedent-setting, game-changing projects and initiatives.

Learn More

Title: Legal Counsel Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) FLSA Status: Exempt, Full Time Supervisory Responsibility: N/A Location: Remo...

Apply Now ›

Associate Position

Blume Forte Fried Zerres and Molinari 1 Main Street Chatham, NJ 07945Prominent Morris County Law Firm with a state-wide personal injury prac...

Apply Now ›

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY DEFENSE LITIGATION

d Arcambal Ousley & Cuyler Burk, LLP, a well-established women-owned litigation firm, has an opening in our Parsippany, NJ office. We of...

Apply Now ›