The four men accused in the murder of a Peace Corps volunteer from Cumming have been acquitted.
The four, including Constant Bio and his brother, Jacques, were acquitted Saturday in the murder of Kate Puzey, 24, of Cumming, who was found murdered on her doorstep in 2009 in the Benin village where she taught English, according to the AJC. She was killed a month after sending an email to a supervisor saying a colleague, allegedly Constant Bio, at the school was molesting the female students.
Very little information regarding the acquittal was immediately available.
Puzey's case was of interest to Georgia U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, who became close with Puzey's family and even used her mother, Lois, in a 2016 campaign ad. Isakson's office issued the following comment on the acquittal
I believe in the rule of law, but I am heartbroken for the Puzey family. I pray that the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act, which I wrote and helped pass in her memory, is helping other volunteers who, like Kate, give of themselves so selflessly. I hope that the conclusion of the legal case can give some small piece of solace to Kate’s mother Lois and her brother David, and to all those who knew and loved Kate. They remain in my daily thoughts and prayers. I also am grateful for the hard work of the U.S. Embassy in Benin, the U.S. State Department and the Peace Corps who have helped see this through to the end.
In 2011, President Obama signed the aforementioned Peace Corps Protection Act, which aims to provide security and protection for Peace Corps volunteers.
The Peace Corps issued a statement Saturday, saying the trial concluded and that they continue to mourn Puzey's death along with her family and friends.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/2/506522/men-accused-in-murder-of-forsyth-county-peace-corps-volunteer-acquitted