A Vicksburg man convicted in 1993 of killing his girlfriend four years earlier is asking the state to clear his name.

Paul Joseph “Jody” Warnock, now a 41-year-old parolee once again living in the River City, has submitted a petition to Gov. Haley Barbour to be pardoned of his murder conviction for the killing of Carol Ann Hall, 18, at his parents’ First North Street home.

Warnock was sentenced to life after the jury’s verdict, served nearly 10 years after failed appeals and was released Sept. 18, 2006. He could not be reached about his petition. In his published legal notice, he lists reasons why he should be granted a pardon, which include his “prison record, work history, success since being released from custody and evidence of rehabilitation.”

A pardon would erase Warnock’s conviction from his criminal record and restore his civil rights, such as the right to vote.

Lisa Hall, Carol Ann’s sister, expressed surprise this morning that Warnock is seeking a pardon.

“We just can’t see this,” Lisa Hall. “He killed an 18-year-old girl and only served the time he did, and now he wants it off his record. I just don’t understand.”

Joe Little, who said he was close friends with the victim at the time of her death, said he wasn’t buying it.

“I was absolutely disgusted when I heard of this,” Little said.

Little, 13 when Hall was killed, said he remembered the slain teen as a “fun, tomboy, country girl” who was always helping at his family’s business, Faye’s Grocery, and also taught him how to drive a car long before he was old enough.

“She was a wonderful person,” he said. “If there’s anything I can do to prevent him from getting this pardon, I’ll do whatever’s necessary.”

Little noted that he had lost contact with Hall’s relatives about two years ago.

Before Barbour and attorneys examine cases petitioned to be pardoned, they must receive a letter of recommendation from the state’s parole board, which has not occurred in Warnock’s case, said Pete Smith, the governor’s spokesman.

Former 9th Circuit District Attorney Gil Martin prosecuted Warnock’s case 15 years ago.

“The state granting a pardon is very rare, especially in murder cases,” said Martin, who has nearly 40 years of legal experience.

Martin, DA for 16 years, said Warnock’s case stands out among the 7,500 he prosecuted during his time in office.

“That was all just very unusual,” he said. “Warnock seemed like an ordinary guy, had no criminal record. He just got caught up in an extraordinary situation. He continually denied he did it, but there was plenty of circumstantial, undeniable evidence against him.”

Warnock was first tried in Warren County Circuit Court, but that proceeding ended in a deadlocked jury. The case was moved to Leflore County on a change of venue motion. A jury there found him guilty.

Although Warnock was charged with murder the day after Hall died, he was not indicted for more than three years. On the day of the shooting, police were called to the Warnock home after his parents said they could not open the locked door to their son’s bedroom. Hearing moans from inside, police forced the door open and found Hall covered with bed linens, dying from a gunshot wound. She died within 24 hours without regaining consciousness.

Hall had been staying with Warnock in his room, but testimony was that the relationship was deteriorating. She had been seeing another man and had returned from seeing him when the shooting occurred.

A gun used in the shooting was found in the house and officers testified that Warnock’s fingerprint was found on the gun.

In December 1995, Warnock’s conviction and life sentence were upheld by the state Court of Appeals after Warnock argued that he was not given a speedy trial and that evidence did not support the verdict. Then in June 1996, Warnock lost an appeal to have the state Supreme Court review his case.