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Beyond Criminal Headlines: Michael Seiden on attorney convicted in real estate investor’s killing

On July 30, 2019, Bryan Schmitt was driving home from work in Sandy Springs, Georgia when he heard something hit the front of his Mercedes Benz.

Schmitt abruptly stopped his car, then turned around to question Hamid Jahangard, a real estate investor who had been bouncing a golf ball at the edge of a nearby driveway while talking on his phone. The pair reportedly carried out a heated exchange across traffic. Schmitt then made an abrupt turn into the driveway, striking the curb, a couple trashcans and Hamid Jahangard, who fell back, severely injuring his head.

This week, Cox Media Group’s Nicole Bennett had the opportunity to speak with Michael Seiden, a reporter for WSB-TV in Atlanta, about his extensive coverage of the case that unfolded against Bryan Schmitt.

>> Listen to the full episode below.

Beyond Criminal Headlines is a true crime podcast where every few weeks, host Nicole Bennett sits down with esteemed journalists from across the industry who’ve covered some of the most notorious crimes in American history. Find the latest ‘Beyond Criminal Headlines’ content on any podcast provider or listen on demand here.

Schmitt, an in-house attorney for a software development company and U.S. Army veteran, waited for police to arrive and attempted to render aid. He later told authorities he never meant to hit Jahangard and underestimated his car’s turning radius.

Emergency responders brought Jahangard to a nearby hospital where he remained in critical care for two days before passing away on August 2. He was 60 years old. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that Jahangard died of “blunt force injury of the head.”

Schmitt was arrested and officially charged about two weeks after the incident. During his trial, prosecutors argued that Schmitt purposely hit Jahangard in a fit of rage, causing the skull fractures that resulted in his death days later.

Schmitt’s defense attorneys contend that simply was not the case. “Mr. Schmitt did not intend to kill or assault or otherwise harm Mr. Jahangard in any way. Mr. Jahangard’s death was a tragic accident,” John Garland, one of Schmitt’s defense attorneys, said during closing arguments.

On September 20 of this year, a jury in Fulton County found 51-year-old Bryan Schmitt guilty of malice murder, two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault. A judge then handed down a sentence of life with the possibility of parole. Schmitt will be 81 years old by the time he is eligible for parole.

Jahangard, an Iranian native, graduated from Walton High School in Cobb County and Georgia Tech. He leaves behind two daughters.

Nicole Bennett

Nicole Bennett

CMG Digital Content Producer

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