Athens murder suspect indicted on reduced charge

By Joe Johnson

A man who was arrested last year for the alleged murder of his girlfriend has been indicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Kendall Elon Boone, 29, was charged with voluntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,making a false statement, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the indictment filed in Superior Court on Monday.

The grand jury did not indict him for malice murder, felony murder, or aggravated assault for the shooting death of 48-year-old Esnati Gurura in their apartment on Royale Road.

Prior to the case going to the grand jury, Boone underwent court-ordered mental illness evaluation by the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

The indictment states that he fatally shot Gurura “while acting solely as the result of a sudden, violent and irresistible passion.”