Ga. Supreme Court upholds Walker Co. man's life sentence in 'road rage' murder

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Lance Rockholt (Georgia Department of Corrections photo)

The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously agreed to uphold the sentencing for convicted murder Lance Coleman Rockholt of Ringgold, according to Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit district attorney Herbert “Buzz” Franklin.

On Monday, May 7, the seven justices agreed with Walker County Superior Court judge Kristina Cook Graham’s decision to impose a life sentence in the road rage murder of Mark Anthony Pickett. The court also upheld a consecutive five-year sentence for Rockholt.

In 2006, jurors found him guilty after a short deliberation. The jury found his signed confession to a Chattanooga police officer to be most convincing.

He was convicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Rockholt committed these crimes in October 2005, after trying to aggressively pass Pickett who had been driving south on Ga. 193. Pickett drove about five miles with Rockholt following, before stopping near Garrett’s Chapel Road. He then got out of his vehicle to confront Rockholt. Pickett’s children, ages 6 and 13, were in their father’s vehicle and witnessed the murder.

Rockholt reportedly shot Pickett three times with a .22-caliber handgun from less than three feet away.

Lea Hird, Rockholt's girlfriend, was a passenger in his vehicle during the shooting. Hird testified that Rockholt shot Pickett. When initially questioned by authorities, Hird had denied knowing anything about the shooting. Rockholt’s defense lawyer, David Dunn, maintained that Hird was the shooter throughout the trial.

Read more: RN-T.com - Ga Supreme Court upholds Walker Co man s life sentence in road rage murder