A Flint bride and groom accused in the death of a groomsman on their wedding night have pulled the plug on a looming jury trial, opting instead to change their pleas in Genesee County Circuit Court. On Tuesday, 24-year-old James Shirah entered a no‑contest plea to an amended second‑degree homicide charge and related vehicle offenses, while his wife, 23-year-old Savanah Collier, pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact. Shirah is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, with Collier set to learn her fate on May 26.
Pleas and court records
According to court records reviewed by Court TV, Shirah entered the no‑contest plea citing a "lack of memory and civil liability." He did so without any agreement in place about how long his sentence might be, though prosecutors agreed not to pursue sentence enhancements or ask for his terms to run consecutively. Collier, the filings say, admitted to one count of accessory after the fact. Both pleas came just one day before jury selection was supposed to start.
What investigators say happened
Investigators trace the case back to an argument on August 30, 2024, following a wedding reception in Flint. Police say the confrontation ended when the groom’s SUV hit 29-year-old groomsman Terry Lewis Taylor Jr. in the street outside a home on the city’s north side. Taylor later died from his injuries. Local coverage at the time described the crash as intentional and reported that officers were called to the 1400 block of E. Hamilton Avenue around 8 p.m.
As reported by WXYZ, police said the couple did not report the incident until the following day, which investigators indicated made their work harder.
Prosecutor's reaction and the defense's request
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told ABC12 that his office views the plea arrangement as an appropriate outcome based on the evidence in the case.
Court filings reviewed by Court TV show that Collier’s defense team has asked the judge to consider sentencing her under Michigan’s Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, known as HYTA. That program could allow her case to be dismissed and sealed if she successfully completes probation. Prosecutors have formally objected to that request.
What's next in court
Shirah and Collier are due back in Genesee County Circuit Court in May, when Judge Khary Hanible will hand down their sentences. Shirah faces the most serious potential punishment. Second‑degree murder under Michigan law can carry a possible life sentence. Collier’s future will hinge on whether the court grants HYTA status or imposes a standard sentence.
The court’s decision will determine whether the case remains on the books as a public conviction or, if HYTA is approved in Collier’s situation, can ultimately be dismissed after probation, according to the penalties described by the Detroit Free Press.
What HYTA means
Michigan’s Holmes Youthful Trainee Act allows qualifying young defendants to be placed on youthful‑trainee status without a formal finding of guilt. If they complete probation successfully, the court dismisses the case and the charges do not result in a public criminal conviction. The law spells out age limits, eligibility criteria, and exceptions for certain crimes. Those details and recent revisions are set out in state statute at MCL 762.11 et seq..
