A Georgia man is on trial for the murder of his best friend of three decades, but his defense attorney claimed the fatal shooting was an accident. Joe Link, 78, appeared in a Clayton County courtroom on Wednesday as a jury heard the details of the October 2023 shooting death of 68-year-old Coybern Jones Jr. Link is facing charges of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.
Details of the Argument and Shooting
According to prosecutors, Link and Jones were best friends for 30 years, but their relationship ended after an argument in a gas station in Jonesboro, Georgia. The disagreement escalated and spilled out onto a nearby road, where one of the men pulled the trigger of a vintage .22 revolver. Jones was found dead from a gunshot wound to the neck, and Link was arrested a few days later on murder charges.
Defense’s Argument and Firearms Testimony
During the trial, Link’s defense attorney, Erin King, argued that the shooting was an accident, claiming there was a “tussle” over the gun, which went off and fatally shot Jones. King also explained that Link was in shock after the shooting and left his friend bleeding on the ground. Assistant District Attorney Brianna Jordan countered that the shooting was intentional. A firearms examiner from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation testified that the gun in question, a vintage model manufactured before 1968, could discharge without applying force to the trigger, further complicating the case.
