Franklin County jury finds Laurel man not guilty in killing of girlfriend

Published 11:09 am Wednesday, August 29, 2018

MEADVILLE, Miss. (AP) — A south Mississippi man has been found not guilty of killing his girlfriend.

Jurors in Franklin County deliberated about two hours Tuesday before acquitting Laurel resident Greg Burroughs. He was charged with manslaughter in the June 2017 shooting death of 23-year-old Katherine Sinclair.

Defense attorney Tracy Klein says prosecutors failed to prove Sinclair’s death was manslaughter. Burroughs says Sinclair shot herself.

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Jones County District Attorney Anthony Buckley says Burroughs’ demeanor on police video suggests he wasn’t upset by Sinclair’s death. Buckley says the awkward angle of Sinclair’s wound was not consistent with suicide.

Laurel police Sgt. Michael Reeves testified Sinclair and Burroughs sent each other threatening text messages.

Sinclair died in Jones County. The trial was moved 115 miles (185 kilometers) away because of extensive local news coverage.