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Jamie Hood admits to cop killing in rowdy court hearing

ATHENS, Ga. — Accused cop-killer Jamie Hood admitted in open court to pulling the trigger that killed Athens-Clarke County police Officer Elmer "Buddy" Christian last year.

In a very emotional and, at times, rowdy hearing, Hood told the court he was responsible for killing Christian.

"I took a man's life," said Hood. "I feel his family deserves to know the truth."

During the hearing to determine if Hood's attorneys would get access to their client's family medical and juvenile records, Hood repeatedly stated he wanted to fire those court-appointed lawyers.

He has made it quite clear during previous hearings that he disagrees with the way attorneys Christian Lamar and Emily Gilbert are handling his case.

"I do not want them to represent me," said Hood. "They're hiding the truth from y'all. They want to put me in a mental hospital so I can't tell what really happened."

Hood believes his attorneys want to prove he was abused as a child and that led him to kill Christian and wound Officer Tony Howard.

"Ain't nothing in my family life made me pull that trigger," Hood told the court.

At one point, Hood's outbursts became so pronounced, Judge David Sweat ordered him removed from the courtroom into a side chamber where he could hear the proceedings through a speaker.

After admitting he pulled the trigger, Hood was cautioned by the judge about making incriminating statements in a death penalty case.

"My attorneys are not representing the truth," Hood said. "All I want is a fair trial and the truth. As far as the sentence I get, God is going to take care of that."

Sweat wants to decide some of the competency issue during a hearing on July 30.

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