Sentencing scheduled Friday
William Douglas Downer has been convicted of felony murder, armed robbery, burglary and aggravated assault in connection with the August 28, 2012 murder of Michael Larry Hill. The conviction was handed down today in Habersham County Superior Court. Downer is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.
News of the conviction and details of the trial were released by acting District Attorney George Christian.
The 54-year old Downer went on trial last week. His co-defendant, Albert Brown, is serving a life sentence for his participation in the murder. Brown testified at trial along with approximately twelve other witnesses. Downer and Brown disposed of the victim’s body by burning it at a residence on Ayres Road in Mt. Airy.
Due to the condition of the body, the State called an anthropologist as an expert witness to explain the cause and manner of death. The State also relied upon the testimony of the medical examiner and forensic examiners from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation laboratory in Decatur.
The crime was initially reported to the 9-1-1 center. The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Special Agents from the GBI investigated the case.
Assistant District Attorney Eddie Staples and Assistant District Attorney Meredith Davis prosecuted the case. Mountain Judicial Circuit Chief Superior Court Judge Russell W. Smith, Jr. presided over the case and will hand down sentencing January 22.
Downer faces the possibility of life without parole on the felony murder conviction. He also faces a possible maximum sentence of life with parole for armed robbery and 20 years on each count for burglary and aggravated assault.
