N.C. Court of Appeals upholds conviction in Keshia Williams’ murder

The N.C. Court of Appeals has upheld the murder conviction of a Rowan County man whose girlfriend’s body was found in the Yadkin River in 1997.

A jury convicted George Johnson Jr. of the murder of Keshia Williams. He was sentenced to 19 years and 6 months in prison.

Williams was three months pregnant when she disappeared from the apartment she and Johnson shared in January 1997. A month later, officials found her body in the Yadkin River.

Following his conviction, Johnson appealed the decision.

His lawyer, David H. Rogers, argued that the prosecution failed to correct when Rogers called false testimony of Detective Rodney Harris concerning his knowledge of the victim possibly having an abusive former boyfriend.

During the trial, Harris testified he did not recall hearing about or having knowledge of Williams’ former boyfriend. Rogers argued that Johnson told police about the boyfriend during the investigation.

Rogers contended that the prosecution knew at the trial that the testimony was false and asked for a new trial.

Rogers also argued that the trial court abused its discretion by permitting the prosecution to join Johnson’s murder charge with the charge of possession of stolen property. He said the two charges were separate in time and place and therefor should have been handled separately.

Written by Judge Linda M. McGee, with Judges K. Edward Greene and Hugh B. Campbell concurring, the Court of Appeals denied Johnson’s appeal on Aug. 21.

Contact Jillian McCartney at 704-797-4253 or jmccartney@salisburypost.com .