GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The attorney for a teenager accused in the murder and robbery of a Gwinnett County man said her client may not fully realize what's going on.
Marckell Aaliyah Honeycutt appeared in court Tuesday for an arraignment.
As the 17-year-old stood before a judge, her lawyer entered a not guilty plea, but that is just the beginning of what could be a lengthy court process.
Murder victim Brian Whitfield's family said it is becoming all too aware of that fact.
"Once we try to start dealing with it and coping with it, then we have another court and another court," said Shannon Rhea Whitfield, Brian Whitfield's estranged wife.
Gwinnett County police said Honeycutt, along with Marquavous Benton and Kathryn Voight, killed Whitfield outside his Buford area home, leaving his body lying in his driveway. They then allegedly stole electronics, guns and his truck from the property.
Police said three confessed to the crime, claiming Whitfield drove them to his house in a planned sex-for-a-gun deal.
Whitfield's estranged wife doesn't buy the story.
"Every time we hear their evidence or them trying to hold themselves up, it's like a knife in us, you know. We can't breathe," Shannon Rhea Whitfield said.
After the court hearing, Honeycutt's attorney told Channel 2's Gwinnett Bureau Chief Tony Thomas that her client remains confused and may need further help before ever going to trial. Lawyer Deborah Fluker said Honeycutt doesn't comprehend everything that's going on.
"Of course it's a complicated legal proceeding, but just the nature of how she got involved in the circumstances as well," Fluker said.
The two other defendants in the case waived their arraignments and did not appear in court on Tuesday.
Fluker also told Thomas she doesn't want her client to go to trial with the other suspects.
"I'm intending (to) file a motion to sever, or separate, her out from the trials of the other co-defendants," Fluker said.
That could mean there will be two or possibly three different trials in this murder case.
Police said video surveillance cameras captured the three seemingly celebrating after the murder and carrying some of the stolen items into a motel.
"I do believe in forgiveness and I thought, 'Well, maybe it was the fact that she (Honeycutt) was scared because there was a gun and everything.' But after the videos and everything, she didn't feel sorry for what she did," Shannon Rhea Whitfield said.
WSBTV
