CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's note: The video above is from a previous report.
A jury found a Cherokee County guilty of murdering his wife, according to the Office of the District Attorney for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit.
Following a six-day trial, Charles Collins, 71, was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, family violence aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Sentencing will happen later this week, according to a release.
Collins was sentenced on Feb. 2 to life plus five years in prison.
The case stems from a July 24, 2023 shooting, where the Cherokee Sheriff's Office was called to investigate the scene at a house near New Light Road in Canton. When the deputies got to the home, they found Collins holding a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver and his 63-year-old wife, Deborah Collins, lying dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the neck.
Collins confessed to shooting his wife but stated his actions were in self-defense, according to the district attorney's office. He told authorities that he shot her because she had threatened him with a knife. However, it was discovered that he rendered no aid to his wife and did not call 911, a release stated. Evidence also indicated she was not holding a knife at the time she was shot.
The trial had 21 witnesses testify, with 15 for the prosecution and six for Collins. The prosecution presented more than 300 exhibits as evidence. This included 911 recordings, crime scene photos and physical evidence.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Collins guilty on all charges.