Boyd denied ‘Stand Your Ground’ immunity in Scott Spivey killing
Scott Spivey
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
Weldon Boyd, the North Myrtle Beach businessman involved in a highway shooting that killed Tabor City resident Scotty Spivey more than two years ago, cannot claim immunity from prosecution under South Carolina’s “stand your ground” law, judge ruled Friday.
“I find that Mr. Boyd’s request for immunity is denied,” Circuit Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. said just after 4 p.m. Friday. His decision came after four days of testimony in the “stand your ground hearing” sought by Boyd and Kenneth “Bradley” Williams, who was with Boyd and also fired on Spivey on Camp Swamp Road in northern Horry County on Sept. 9, 2023.
Griffith did not rule on Williams’ request under the “stand your ground” law.
Griffith’s decision means a civil case brought by the Spivey’s family can proceed, and criminal charges could ultimately be filed. Neither Boyd nor Williams have been charged criminally in the case, with local prosecutors ruling previously that the “stand your ground” law applied in this case.
Evidence from all sides presented during the hearing, which began in Conway on the morning of Feb. 17, included witness testimony, phone recordings including 911 calls, medical reports, and an acoustic analysis of some 29 gunshots recorded in 24 seconds.
Boyd’s testimony appeared significant in Judge Griffith’s decision.
“Credibility is huge here,” Griffith said as he announced his ruling. “I really question the credibility of Weldon Boyd.”
Boyd’s testimony, the judge said, was not consistent with other evidence presented during the hearing.
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