The four men charged in the 2009 murder of 38-year-old Andrew Nichols have been re-arraigned on charges against them by District Attorney Layla Zon, in an effort to keep the same core charges but make the indictment tighter.

The four men, along with a cast of several bit players, are accused of the torture and murder of 38-year-old Andrew Nichols whose body was found partially buried in Social Circle in late 2009. According to investigators, Nichols was taken from the area of Ivy Street in Porterdale and transported to Dawkins' home on Deer Trail in Oxford. He was taken to a shed at the back of the property, beaten and shot to death, then transported to Walton County where the body was found Dec. 6, 2009.

All four men have been charged with malice murder, felony murder, kidnapping, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and concealing the death of another. Dawkins has been charged additionally with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and theft by receiving stolen property.

It is unclear if the four men will have a single trial or four individual trials. They will be seen by Superior Judge Samuel Ozburn with a tentative trial date set for September.