Ga. Supreme Court hears arguments in Ryan Duke case — again

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The Georgia Supreme Court heard arguments in Ryan Duke’s appeal on Tuesday.

Duke faces charges in the 2005 death of Tara Grinstead.

She was an Ocilla teacher and beauty queen.

Duke’s defense team is appealing an Irwin County court’s denial for state funds to pay for expert witnesses and an investigator.

At issue in this pre-trial appeal is whether Georgia’s Indigent Defense Act authorizes public funding for experts and investigators when private lawyers are working for the defendant at no charge.

This is the second time Duke tried to appeal this issue to the Georgia Supreme Court.

Arguments began at the state Supreme Court at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

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