Man charged in beating case denied bond

March 26, 2008 08:05 pm

— By CINDY BISHOP
cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com

CORDELE — A local man accused of nearly beating his girlfriend to death earlier this month had his first appearance in court yesterday and will not be getting out of jail anytime soon.
Korey Bernard Curtis, 27, of 106 S. Bass St. appeared in Crisp Superior Court before the honorable Judge Robert Chasteen Wednesday, smirking and smiling throughout the proceedings, said Cordele Police Detective Jeremy Taylor, who is working the case.
Citing fears that Curtis would harm the victim or other witnesses involved in the case, Chasteen denied bond for the suspect, who is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, false report of a crime, making false statements and hindering persons making a 911 call.
Taylor was requested to testify at the bond hearing which is rare, he said.
“We [detectives] don’t normally testify at bond hearings, but in this case, Assistant District Attorney Barbara Becraft wanted me there to explain some of the pictures, which were extremely graphic,” said Taylor.
Curtis was arrested on March 6 after police were called to the home he shared with his girlfriend. Curtis initially told officers that someone had broken into their home and severely beat his girlfriend.
Police went inside the home and found the blood-soaked victim on the sofa, still bleeding profusely from her injuries. Officers also observed blood splattered from one end of the house to the other and pieces of a broom handle and a broken artificial tree lying in the floor. They also found an iron ashtray believed to have been used to strike the victim in the face.
Further investigation quickly revealed that Curtis had actually assaulted his girlfriend and allegedly tried to cover up what he did by rearranging the crime scene to look as though someone else had burglarized the house and attacked his girlfriend.
Crisp County EMS responded and transported the victim to Crisp Regional Hospital where she remained for several days due to the injuries she sustained.
Curtis, who was released from prison in November 2006 after serving a 10 year sentence for armed robbery, remains behind bars in the Crisp County Detention Center.
Taylor said Becraft plans to indict Curtis when the next grand jury convenes on May 12, and if convicted, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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