ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — It’s now up to a judge to determine the fate of a Dougherty County mother awaiting sentencing in connection with the murder of her children’s father.

About a month ago, Jenna Colley was in court for a status hearing. Then, Judge Denise Marshall heard arguments about Colley being sentenced according to the Georgia Survivor Justice Act.

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The Georgia Survivor Justice Act was recently signed into law in May of 2025. The legislation allows victims of domestic violence to receive a sentence less than the mandatory life-in-prison sentence if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant was a victim, in line with the Survivor Justice Act.

In a brief filed by the defense, they detailed how the state “...characterized the fight that led to the death of Ken Covin… and the relationship of which it arose, as one involving domestic violence.“ Citing statements made from hearings before the trial and during.

In the state’s response, prosecutors explained that the request for a lesser sentence should be denied because, “The defendant has completely failed to meet the burden of proof under the Georgia Survivor Justice Act. The defendant has submitted nothing to prove any of the admissible forms of evidence to show that she was subjected to domestic violence.”

“This does not appear to be a situation where the documentation is that of a battered wife that has sustained years and years and years of abuse and then finally blown her top. Rather it seems like she had a very, very, very well documented history of violence against the victim. It’s not a super strong case for the defendant.”

Colley was originally set to be sentenced Sept. 4th, but now sentencing is set for Sept. 30th.

WALB will be live in the courtroom as the sentence is handed down.

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