COVINGTON, Ga. - The Covington News will be in the Newton County Judicial Center courtroom providing live stream coverage for the case of the state of Georgia against James Gary Hill III, the man accused of killing a local mother, per a signed order from Alcovy Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Horace J. Johnson. 

The News filed a Rule 22 request July 1 asking to bring camera equipment and other technology into the courtroom to take photographs and provide live stream video coverage of the trial. The request was signed by Judge Johnson and returned July 3. The trial coverage will be available at covnews.com. 

Hill is accused of killing 27-year-old Kelly Marshall and leaving her body under the Mount Tabor Road bridge next to the Yellow River Aug. 12, 2017. He has been jailed since his arrest the following day on traffic charges after running from deputies in Walton County and probation revocation. He faces charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. 

In December 2017 Newton County Coroner Tommy Davis said an autopsy determined that Marshall’s manner of death was homicide caused by asphyxia. Investigators with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office later determined that there was enough probable cause to charge Hill with the murder.

Hill's trial is the first of 17 scheduled for the week of July 15 with Judge Johnson presiding. He is represented by Alcovy Judicial Circuit Public Defender Anthony Carter. Arguing the state's case will be Assistant District Attorneys Candice Branche and Amber Bennett. 

The News was also granted digital access to Hill's July 9 pre-trial hearing.