Convicted Police Murderer Released By Arkansas Supreme Court Due To Violation of Rights

Demarcus Donnell Parker was convicted of murder in connection with the death of a police officer in Arkansas. However, the police murderer was released by the State Supreme Court after overturning his conviction.

On April 28, 2018, at around 3:30 p.m., Forrest City Police Officer Oliver Johnson, 25, was at home playing video games with his children when two rival gangs got into a shootout outside his residence. Unfortunately, during the shootout, Johnson was hit by a stray bullet that led to his death.

According to Matkin, around two weeks later, Demarcus Donnell Parker, 29, was arrested together with his co-defendant, George Jealvontia Henderson, 26. However, Henderson received immunity from then Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington in exchange for his cooperation against the convicted police murderer.

Ultimately, the convicted police murderer faced charges of twenty-one counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, six counts of attempted first-degree murder, and first-degree murder. However, after nine months, Parker’s defense lawyers notified Second Judicial Circuit Judge Randy Philhours that Parker’s rights were violated.

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Convicted Police Murderer Released

According to Lynch, the convicted police murderer appealed the decision on the allegation that his right to a speedy trial was violated. This is because the trial started after the mandatory limit of one year had passed. Eventually, in December 2019, Philhours recognized and approved the release of the convicted police murderer. This is because the Arkansas Supreme Court decided that under the Sixth Amendment, prosecutors indeed violated Parker’s right to a speedy trial.

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