Brian Cohee jr II, Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder For Killing A 69yrs Old Man
A Gwinnett County jury has delivered a guilty verdict in the first-degree murder trial of Brian Cohee II. After approximately two days of deliberation, the jury found Cohee, now 21, responsible for the February 2021 murder of 69-year-old Warren Barnes, a homeless man found deceased near Crosby Avenue.
The courtroom was filled with anticipation as the verdict was read Friday afternoon. Cohee, who was 19 at the time of the crime, showed no outward reaction, while some attendees reacted emotionally to the conviction. Assistant District Attorney Trish Mahre emphasized the significance of the outcome, stating, “Warren Barnes lost his life in the most violent of ways. His friends, family and community suffer his loss. This outcome demonstrates the checks and balances that exist within the criminal justice system. Justice prevailed when the jury rendered guilty verdicts holding the defendant legally accountable for his horrendous crimes.”
Cohee’s defense team had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, arguing that his diagnosed mental health disorders, coupled with environmental stressors, rendered him incapable of distinguishing right from wrong at the time of the murder. However, prosecution countered with evidence of Cohee’s alleged planning of the crime and attempts to dispose of Barnes’s body, suggesting an understanding of his actions and their consequences. Expert testimony was divided, with state psychologists concluding he was not insane, while a defense psychologist asserted he was experiencing a psychotic episode.
In addition to the murder charge, Cohee was also found guilty of tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with evidence. The investigation that led to Cohee’s arrest in March 2021 began when his parents discovered Barnes’s remains. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday morning. Barnes’s death had a notable impact on the Grand Junction community, particularly those who knew him as a devoted reader.
