Valdosta man sentenced to life in prison - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Valdosta man sentenced to life in prison

Posted: Updated:
By Lydia Jennings - bio | email

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:20:52 GMT
    The Lee County Sheriff's Department is now working with the Albany Crime stoppers. The Lee County Sheriff's Department asked to join the Albany Crime-stoppers program. The Sheriff's Department believes
    The Lee County Sheriff's Department is now working with the Albany Crime stoppers. The Lee County Sheriff's Department asked to join the Albany Crime-stoppers program. The Sheriff's Department believes it will be a helpful tool in closing some cases.

     

  • Disaster plans for your pet

    Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:08 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:08:36 GMT
    How would you save your pets life if a tornado touched down here in South Georgia? Tuesday's tornado ripped through Oklahoma taking 24 lives, and today families are still searching for their belongings
    How would you save your pets life if a tornado touched down here in South Georgia? Tuesday's tornado ripped through Oklahoma taking 24 lives, and today families are still searching for their belongings and pets that were lost during the storm

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:43 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:43:09 GMT
    Some princesses and super heroes made a stop in Albany Wednesday to visit young patients at Phoebe Putney Memorial hospital. Spiderman, Ariel and a few others made rounds to the children on the pediatric
    Some princesses and super heroes made a stop in Albany Wednesday to visit young patients at Phoebe Putney Memorial hospital.
    •   
VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) -

A Valdosta man may spend the rest of his life in prison for a shocking murder.

An innocent man was gunned down on his porch two years ago in what may have been a case of mistaken identity.

In August 2010, 23-year-old Brandon Henry murdered John Golden in what police say was a cold blood killing. Henry was sentenced to life in prison yesterday. Golden's family says these past two years have been brutal, especially for his wife.

"This has been very hard for Carla, she talks about him still all the time, she can't go down in the area of the neighborhood," said Carla's sister, Stephanie Miley.

The Golden family moved out of their Nardo Street home after the shooting. Carla Golden's sister Stephanie Miley says the verdict is what her sister needed to hear to move on.

"I think justice was done and I think she's satisfied on that part but not the satisfaction of her husband being gone," said Miley.

Valdosta Police Investigator Brian Childress says they found no motive for the killing.

"We believe that he was looking for someone else that he had an altercation with or he made of had an issue with earlier, and unfortunately for Mr. Golden he just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Commander Childress.

John Golden was grilling steaks on his front porch when Brandon Henry walked up and shot him multiple times in the chest.

After an hour of deliberation at the Lowndes County Superior Court, the jury convicted Henry, and the judge sentenced him to life in prison, plus 15 years for burglary and firearm possession.

"It's a good day for the Golden family yesterday, it's a good day for the Police Department, and a good day for the District Attorney's Office, but I am very proud of those citizens who sit on that jury; they sent a firm response back to everybody that this is not going to be tolerated."

Golden's family says he was going what he loved when he died, cooking dinner for his family.

The judge did not sentence Henry to life without parole, so he could be eligible for parole in 30 years.

Copyright 2012 WALB.  All rights reserved.