Husband Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Murdering Wife

The Athens Banner-Herald reports James Lynn, a Barrow County man accused of killing his estranged wife in July, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and aggravated assault.

Judge Joe Booth handled the Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, arraignment and asked that both prosecutors and Lynn’s attorney file pretrial motions over the next 60 days, according to the newspaper.

Lynn, 42, was indicted in October on charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault.

Lynn is accused of killing Tonya Faye Royster Lynn. The Banner-Herald reports that during interviews with police investigators, James Lynn allegedly lied about the night of Lynn’s disappearance but later told them — in a well off of Ethridge Road near Auburn. An autopsy revealed she died from a blow to the head.

Eighty names were read on the steps of the historic courthouse Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, during . The names were those of individuals who died as a result of domestic violence and included two women from Barrow County — Tonya Faye Royster Lynn and Carlotta Shields.