KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) -- For years little attention was paid to the 2005 death of Brian Epp and the murder conviction of the man accused of killing him, John McNeil.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports protests are now growing by those who believe the case was handled differently from similar cases because McNeil is black and Epp was white. Some protestors cite similarities with the debate after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida.

The shooting occurred in a Kennesaw subdivision. McNeil felt he was defending himself and his teenage son from the 43-year-old builder.

McNeil was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The NAACP has protested that McNeil should have been protected by Georgia's "defense of castle" doctrine. The NAACP feels the law was applied differently because McNeil was black.

AP-WF-10-14-12 2220GMT