A Georgia man with a heavy criminal past has been slammed with a 40-year prison sentence handed down without the possibility of parole for the brutal attack on his former girlfriend. Kenneth Lee Phillips, 43, was convicted after a harrowing incident that took place outside a Carrollton liquor store on March 5, 2021, and involved Phillips strangling and assaulting the woman.
According to Atlanta News First, store surveillance captured Phillips' violent actions, including him putting the victim in a chokehold followed by beating her and slamming her into the pavement. When police arrived, they found the victim with dried blood on her arms – a shocking testament to the severity of the assault.
Officers, having responded to a distress call, missed crossing paths with Phillips, who had fled Bankhead Beverage before they arrived. Still, their prompt arrival assisted the victim in her immediate time of need, as reported by WSB-TV. Evidence introduced during the trial also included video clips of previous instances of Phillips abusing the same woman.
Representing himself in court, Phillips chose to cross-examine the victim, making for a difficult spectacle. The Coweta District Attorney emphasized Phillips’ "substantial criminal history" in the sentencing phase. With over 30 arrests since 1998 and five prior felony convictions to his name, Phillips’ latest act of violence finally landed him a heavy sentence.
Upon closing the case, the District Attorney conveyed that justice was served for the victim and that the community would be safer with Phillips behind bars for a substantial period. Philips was found guilty of aggravated assault, aggravated assault family violence, and battery family violence, ensuring his prolonged stay away from society.
