A witness who took the stand during the murder trial of a Georgia student testified the suspect fatally strangled the female victim after he got angry because she laughed when he professed his love for her. According to WSB-TV, prosecutors said they believe the fatal incident happened on Valentine’s Day in 2020.
The victim, identified as 23-year-old Anitra Gunn, was a student at Fort Valley State University. She was reported missing days before her body was located in a wooded area at Crawford County. Authorities later arrested and charged her boyfriend Demarcus Little for her murder. Little served as a sergeant in the army and was posted at Fort Gordon.
Little’s friend, Jaivon Abron, took the stand to testify against him this week. Abron told jurors Little admitted to killing Gunn after he became furious. Abron testified that during a February 16 conversation, Little informed him that he had professed his love for Gunn on Valentine’s Day. But Little said Gunn responded by laughing at him.
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Little told Abron that he didn’t know what happened afterward as he blacked out and struck her. He also revealed he subsequently strangled her, adding that Gunn ultimately yielded after she initially tried defending herself. Little also told Abron that he believed it was the victim’s desire to “go home to be with her mom.” Gunn’s mother passed away in 2014, WSB-TV reported.
“I had to get rid of her,” Little allegedly said, per Abron.
Little then led Abron to the location he disposed of Gunn’s body. The two later got rid of a car bumper Little had retrieved from the crime scene. Abron also faces charges including tampering with evidence and making false statements to the police.
Abron’s testimony also came in the wake of the prosecution reading text messages between the suspect and the victim in court. The messages in question were allegedly threatening and manipulative, WGXA reported.
Little was on Tuesday found guilty of murdering Gunn. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
