Clayton News Daily

By Ed Brock

A jury may be seated this afternoon or Friday in the case of a man charged with shooting his ex-girlfriend and fatally shooting her sister.

Rodger Robinson, 41, of Jonesboro is facing the death penalty in connection with the April 2, 1999 shooting death of Deborah Denise Bryant. Robinson had a history of violence with his ex-girlfriend 35-year-old Denna Flemming and some two weeks before the shootings had threatened her with a baseball bat, according to Clayton County police reports.

Flemming's children told police that on the night of the shootings Robinson somehow entered the apartment where Bryant, Flemming and their children were living. He confronted Bryant downstairs in the living room and shot her on the sofa.

Then he went upstairs, confronted Flemming and shot her twice. Flemming was able to drive to Southern Regional Medical Center for treatment.

During the jury selection process under way in Clayton County Superior Court Judge Albert Collier's courtroom Wednesday potential jurors were asked if they would be willing to impose the death penalty if Robinson is found guilty. Several who answered that they could not sentence Robinson to death for religious and other reasons were dismissed from the jury pool.

Defense and prosecution attorneys also questioned the jurors on whether they or anybody they knew had been victims of domestic violence.

Opening arguments in the trial could be heard this afternoon or Friday.