Accused Police Killer Jamie Hood Pleads Not Guilty in Athens, Ga.

On March 22, 2011, felon Jamie Hood shot Athens Clarke County Police officer Tony Howard at point blank range, then shot and killed officer Buddy Christian as he fled the scene, authorities say.

He escaped from the scene of the shooting on Sayemore Drive, and then eluded the police for a few days as other law enforcement agencies stepped in to help capture him. After Hood surrendered, he said in court that he had killed Christian, but that the officer didn't deserve to die.

On Friday, Hood was arraigned. He pled not guilty to the crimes in the lengthy indictment read by District Attorney Ken Mauldin, according to a story in the Athens Banner Herald. Hood's mental stability has been brought up repeatedly during the past 22 months.

Judge Patrick Haggard gave prosecuting and defense attorneys 30 days to prepare for a hearing to argue three of the many motions that have been filed, the newspaper story says. One motion revisits the issue of Hood's mental competency.