From The Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the murder conviction of Alexander Bridges, 24, of Mobile, Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Bridges was convicted in Mobile County Circuit Court on Oct. 28, 2021, for the murder of Richard Smith.
The police investigation determined that Bridges was responsible for the murder, in part, due to the fact that Bridges was believed to have broken into the victim’s vehicle the day before the shooting, and Bridges sent a threatening message on Facebook to one of the victims just a few hours before the shooting.
Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich’s office successfully prosecuted the case and obtained a guilty verdict. Bridges was sentenced to life imprisonment for his crime. Bridges sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.
“Mr. Bridges callously took the life of Richard Smith and his quest to avoid full justice for his crime has failed,” said Attorney General Steve Marshall.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm Bridges’ conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.
Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General Christopher D. Howell for his successful work on this case and thanked District Attorney Ashley Rich and her staff for their valuable assistance in defending the murder conviction.