Man who set girlfriend on fire found guilty of first-degree murder

Wednesday night, a jury found Kordarro Woodard guilty of first degree murder, after he set his girlfriend, Martha George, on fire on June 19, 2016.

The jury sentenced Woodard to 15 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, and he has to serve a minimum of 70 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole. He received credit for the 12 months he has served so far in prison.

The jury had the option of sentencing the 25-year-old Woodard to 10-40 years or life.

Kordarro Woodard

Deputy prosecuting attorney Curtis Walker lobbied for a life sentence, telling the jury “Martha got the death penalty,” and her family has to live life without her.

Defense attorney Jim Harris maintained his client is innocent, claiming George’s death was a result of accidental suicide.

The jury saw it differently.

“The defendant went to Martha George’s house, by his own testimony, at 12:30, 1 o’clock in the morning on purpose,” deputy prosecutor Gina Knight said in her closing statement. “The defendant, on purpose, pushed her down. The defendant, on purpose, choked her. He choked her. The defendant told her he would kill her. He told her he would kill her. And what did he do? ...He poured the gasoline on her arm. That was on purpose. He did that on purpose. He took a lighter that he carried in his pocket...out of his pocket, on purpose. And on purpose, he set Martha George on fire. That was on purpose.”

Prosecutors showed the jury a chilling video from a police body-worn camera that captured an interview with George just days before she would perish from the burns at The Regional Medical Center in Memphis.

“I’m going to let Martha tell you what happened to her on June 19th, 2016,” Knight said.

In the video, while wailing, George said she was putting pictures in a picture frame in the bathroom.

George told police that Woodard set her on fire, and she extinguished the flames in the shower.

George called 9-1-1, pleading for help.

“And what do you hear the defendant say?,” Knight said. “Martha, Martha, do not tell them I did this to you. That is what he says.”

“Think about that for a second, he just saw her in flames,” Knight continued. “She is in the bathroom trying to put herself out. She is screaming in pain on this 9-1-1 call! She does not tell them on this 9-1-1 call that he did anything. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t say anything else on this 9-1-1 call except ‘help me!’ But what’s the one thing the defendant says, ‘don’t you tell them I did this to you.’ Why? He’s concerned that she’s about to tell on him, that she’s about to tell the truth. She’s still alive and she’s still talking....As he said today, he was looking out for No. 1.”

Harris said there were two 9-1-1 calls with his client making one of them.

Harris claims that George poured gas on herself and tried to scare Woodard by lighting a cigar. He said when she did, the fire began.

The defense also claimed Woodard didn’t want to be there when police arrived because he had warrants.

Harris said Woodard and George had a sexual relationship for seven years, beginning when he was 17 and she was 30.

The jury deliberated for more than two hours before rendering its verdict.

During the sentencing hearing, George’s mother, Nedra Cook, said, “I can’t function,” when asked how her daughter’s death has impacted her.

Cook said George had an 18-year-old daughter, Orrion George, who recently graduated high school, and a 13-year-old son, Davion George, both of whom will be impacted the rest of their lives by the loss of their mother.

Meanwhile, George’s brother, Ralph Mason, was emotional on the stand, noting he helped his mother raise George.

Woodard’s mother, Jessica Hudson, also took the stand, saying the family respects the jury’s decision. She said Woodson has had “minor scrapes with the law” but “nothing like this in previous relationships.”

“He’s my son and I love him,” Hudson said. “I’m still in shock about this.”

She asked the jury to consider that he had no felonies previously.

Woodard’s aunt, Kimberly Knowles, said Woodard’s father was murdered when he was six months old , and he has dealt with dysfunction in the family, including issues with drugs, alcohol and death.

“Our condolences to the family,” Knowles said. “I don’t know what to think, but I do know God is in control of everything. I pray God will allow mercy to be at the forefront of sentencing.”

Harris said Woodard will appeal the guilty verdict.

mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com