The Georgia Supreme Court heard arguments Monday over whether or not an incorrect verdict form influenced a Whitfield County jury in finding a man guilty of murder.

In 2007, a jury found Ryan Darville guilty of the murder of 19-year-old Tommy Canavan.

Darville was also found guilty of armed robbery and conspiracy to violate the Georgia Controlled Substances Act.

According to court records, on July 7, 2006, Darville and others met with Canavan to purchase marijuana and as a result of arguing over a $15 difference in price Darville shot Canavan in the chest — a wound that eventually killed him.

Whitfield County District Attorney Kermit McManus told justices there is “no question” the verdict form is incorrect, however the judge’s verbal instructions corrected what could have been an error before it occurred.

“There was no error in this case,” McManus told the court. “There is no indication of anything that conflicted the jury in this case.”

Darville’s attorney, Brian Steel, disagreed. He stated the jurors never addressed a voluntary manslaughter charge because of the wording of the verdict form.

Justices also addressed Steel’s assertions that Darville never took anything as a result of the crime, although a person accompanying him to the meet fled with the marijuana.

Steel also stated there was insufficient evidence on the robbery and that the conspiracy charge was also incorrect, while the state contended the evidence against Darville on both counts was overwhelming.

Darville is currently serving a life sentence at Hays State Prison in Trion.

Read more: RN-T.com – High court hears arguments in Whitfield murder case