The case of the North Hall High School (NHHS) teacher and coach who died over the weekend in a high school prank gone bad continues to draw interest far and wide. Several Atlanta area defense attorneys and a former prosecutor are among the latest to comment, according to the AJC.
Most predict the wishes of the victim’s family, who has said the teenagers responsible for what happened should be shown leniency, will likely carry significant weight as Hall County prosecutors decide what to do. Wife of dead NHHS teacher, coach pleads for mercy for those connected to his death
“Not every case is black-and-white,” defense attorney Kristen Novay told the paper. “And not every death requires vengeance. Just because somebody has passed and a tragedy occurred doesn’t mean someone has to answer for it.”
Former Fulton County prosecutor Clint Rucker said cases like this are especially tough. “…he’s somebody that they knew. He’s somebody that knew them…my goodness what a tragedy.”
Hall County District Attorney declined to comment to the AJC. And, according to SRN News, he told an AP reporter by phone Monday, “I’m not commenting on that case presently. I don’t have enough information about it to do so.”
Meanwhile, a of 11:00 Tuesday morning, the GoFundMe account set up for the Hughes family with a goal of $75,000 had already topped $412,000. Fundraiser by Krista May : In Memory of Jason Hughes: Support His Family