Specially set jury trial to begin for Savannah man accused in 2019 death of great-grandfather

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A specially set jury trial is set to begin Monday morning for Charles Teeple IV, the Savannah man accused in the 2019 death of a local great-grandfather.

Teeple is charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, exploitation and intimidation of an elderly person, and battery in connection with the death of 66-year-old Bruce Hemley.

Prosecutors say Hemley, a retired master firefighter with the City of Savannah Fire Department, was punched in the head on New Year’s Eve 2019 at Basil’s on Wilmington Island.

He later died in the hospital several days after the incident.

Previous coverage: www.wtoc.com/2020/01/13/man-dies-after-getting-punched-ccpd-investigating/

The case has been moving through the court system for years. Teeple was initially indicted in 2021, nearly two years after Hemley’s death.

Less than two weeks ago, the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office re-indicted Teeple with new and additional charges.

The specially set trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Teeple’s attorney previously filed to delay the trial last week, but Judge Colbert denied the request, noting the case has already been set for trial five times and will now move forward as scheduled.

WTOC will have crews in the courtroom Monday morning and will continue to bring you the latest updates on the case throughout the day.