Update:

Jury selection in the trial of a former attorney accused of stabbing and beating his 77-year-old mother to death is over in DeKalb County.

A jury of seven men, five women, and two alternates has been selected.

Among the confirmed jurors selected to hear the murder case against 49-year-old Richard Merritt, is a woman who served on a fender bender jury some years ago. During jury selection, she confirmed to DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson that she is strong enough to handle the graphic evidence in this trial.

Other jury members include a telecom consultant who has a brother in law enforcement, and a man who admitted he could be “timid” in situations like this but will review the evidence as needed and speak up when it is time to deliberate.

The court expects this trial to last a week.

Original story below:

The trial of a disgraced lawyer accused of stabbing and beating his 77-year-old mother to death is set to begin this week in DeKalb County.

Richard Merritt, 49, has been charged with malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony.

Prosecutors say Merritt killed his mother, Shirley, at her DeKalb County home in February of 2019.

On Feb. 1 of that year, Merritt was preparing to turn himself in to serve 15 years for fraud when he disappeared after allegedly removing his ankle monitor. A day later, Shirley Merritt was found dead at her home in the 1500 block of Planters Row in Tucker.

Richard Merritt had been living with his mother while out on bond. He was arrested eight months later in Tennessee on October 1. Merritt had changed his appearance, including growing out his hair in the back.

Merritt’s brother, Robert, recently sat down for an interview with 95.5 WSB’s Veronica Waters.

Robert Merritt said that as his brother’s trial gets underway, he is feeling anxious but also optimistic: “I’ve had a lot of time to process this situation and I’m very hopeful that we’ll get closure and vindication as a family for the loss of my mother.”

Speaking with WSB over Mother’s Day weekend, Robert Merritt said it is an especially hard time to reflect on what happened to his mother, Shirley. “You do a lot of introspective thinking about what could’ve been and what can’t ever be anymore,” Merritt said. “The family dynamic in this case has been tragically shattered.”

Merritt added that he wants his brother to pay for his mother’s murder, without the “freedom to go out and repeat” what he did. “In his case, he needs to stay in prison for the remainder of his life,” Merritt said. “I feel that he is a danger to society and needs to be out of the mix permanently.”

Before his disappearance in 2019, Richard Merritt pleaded guilty to charges of fraud. Authorities say he used the money he took from clients, some elderly or filing medical malpractice claims, to buy a Porsche or go on vacation.

In addition to his 15 years in prison, he was sentenced to 15 years of probation and ordered to pay a restitution fee of $454,706.

Merritt surrendered his license to practice law in January 2018, according to records from the State Bar of Georgia.

His brother, Robert, told WSB that as the allegations against Richard began to pile up, he was completely shocked. Specifically citing what Richard Merritt did to his legal clients, Robert said, “It was indefensible. I didn’t even recognize that individual.”

When Richard disappeared four years ago, his brother tells WSB it sealed his belief in his brother’s guilt. ”Innocent people typically don’t run,” Merritt said. “Innocent people don’t assume fake identities and make up a new life and a new back story.”

He added that while Richard was on the run, “I wasn’t terribly worried about him, per se. I just didn’t want him to bury himself somewhere and then not be found.”

When asked if Richard was ever a good son, Merritt said that his brother, who is nine years younger than him “may have been a good kid growing up.” However, Merritt adamantly expressed that Richard’s behavior as an adult was anything but that of a good son.

“He begged, borrowed and took most of my mother’s money,” Merritt said. “At the time of her death, she was on the verge of bankruptcy.”

Merritt added that Richard was a “master manipulator” who got his mother to do things that “defy all reason.”

Reflecting on his mother’s life, Robert said, “Her family meant everything to her. She was very dedicated to her friends, her church, her grandchildren, and her children.”

He added that Shirley was also incredibly devoted to her career in patient and family services at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “She was very concerned that families were lifted up in their time of need,” Merritt recalled.

“In my eulogy, I talked about her tenacity,” Merritt added. “She was a tough cookie. She and my dad fought hard to get where they were.”

In regards to what his mother did for Richard, Merritt said that he thinks she meant well. “I’m sure she thought she was doing the right thing. And unfortunately, it didn’t turn out well in the end, sadly.”

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