ATLANTA — Powerful testimony in court Friday came from the father of a murder victim minutes before a judge denied bond for the security guard accused of killing his son.
Police say Dexter Harper admitted not just to the killing, but to seeing a demon and hearing the voice of God before he opened fire on a co-worker.
"I believe that this court, on this land, in Atlanta, Georgia, with the state and this case will set a stand," said Emmanuel Nwankwo Sr. as he fought to keep his son's accused killer in jail until trial.
"How do you feel like you have son, an American son, the soul of your son, was murdered," Nwankwo Sr. said.
But Harper sat silent.
The security guard is accused of gunning down his co-worker, Emmanuel Nwankwo Jr. inside a Buckhead high-rise office building earlier this month.
"Well, the victim's family should be upset. I mean, anytime anybody passes it's a horrible thing. I'm just going to have to review the case, figure out the facts and see how I can defend him," defense attorney Manny Arora said.
Police say during interviews, Harper admitted to the shooting because he saw a demon in the victim.
"Another reason that he gave later on the interview, he said God told him to do it," said Detective Eugene Johnson with the Atlanta Police Department
"Based on the comments that were made by the client to the police at the scene, it would appear that there are going to be some mental health issues. I don't know what level they rise to, but we're going to start exploring that," Arora said.
After prosecutors argued Harper was a danger to the community, himself and his family. The judge denied bond and bound the case over to court.
The judge set another court date for Harper in November.
Meantime, Harper's attorney says he'll work to get his clients psychological evaluation done as soon as possible.
WSBTV
