A Georgia man has recently been arrested after being accused of killing his girlfriend and a police officer, but his father has told the media that his son has long dealt with mental health issues. According to law enforcement officials, he was picked him up on a warrant for murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

According to The Washington Post, the man murdered his girlfriend late last month. Her body was found in her apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. In a separate incident, the man allegedly shot a police officer. The police officer was shot while she was responding to a suspicious activity report. She had been with the public safety department for almost 28 years. Police arrested the man just hours after they claim he killed the police officer.

The man's father stated that the man had been dealing with mental problems long before he allegedly killed his girlfriend and the police officer. In order to be convicted of murder, prosecutors will need to not only show that the man was the one who actually fired the gun that killed the two women, but also that he had the mental capacity to do so. While his father did not elaborate on what kinds of mental health issues his son has dealt with, his symptoms or how severe of a condition it is, it is possible that he would have been unable to actually kill anyone because of his mental health condition.

Any violent crime will attract a lot of attention and make it harder for a defendant to clear his or her name, but the death of a high-profile figure, such as a police officer, stirs up the feelings and anger of the public. Because murder is such a serious charge, it is crucial that a suspect hire a criminal defense attorney that can help combat such negative public opinion.

Source: The Washington Post, "Father: Man accused of killing girlfriend in Ga., SC officer was dealing with mental problems," Jan. 28, 2012