7 results for 'cat:"Evidence" AND cat:"Murder" AND cat:"Child Victims"'.
J. Watkins upholds defendant's conviction for the murder of her 4-year-old child, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and was covered in multiple older injuries and scars. There was sufficient evidence to support the conviction and, contrary to defendant's argument, the state was not required to prove the child's death was caused by a deadly weapon. Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Watkins, Filed On: May 15, 2024, Case #: 04-23-00090-CR , Categories: evidence, murder, child Victims
J. Hixson finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for the first-degree murder of his 3-year-old son. Defendant's girlfriend testified defendant punished the child by whipping him on his back with a belt and wooden spoon for peeing on himself and cussing, also saying this instance was more violent than previous punishments. After leaving the room, the girlfriend returned when things got quiet to see the child lying motionless on the floor. The child died later that day after receiving medical attention. Sufficient evidence, including forensic/medical photographs, the belt, an extension cord and the broken wooden spoon demonstrate defendant knew his conduct of repeated blunt-force trauma to the child's head and torso was deadly. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Hixson , Filed On: May 8, 2024, Case #: CR-23-196, Categories: evidence, murder, child Victims
J. Wright finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for the capital murder of her 18-month-old son. Defendant, wet, as if just having showered, arrived at the outpatient facility with her son in her arms. Employees testified defendant was in distress, telling them her son would not wake up. Injuries were observed on the child's body consistent with abuse, including bruises on the child's face in the shape of the mother's handprint. Rigor also indicated the child had been dead for a period of time. Affirmed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Wright , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: 09-21-00255-CR, Categories: evidence, murder, child Victims
J. Erickson finds a lower court properly sentenced a defendant to 12 years for imprisonment of a child and life in prison for second- degree murder. The defendant argued that he was provided with inadequate representation after he abused and murdered his girlfriend's 11- month- old toddler, claimed in court that the she died from choking on baby wipes, and then demanded an evidentiary hearing. However, the government sufficiently showed in court that he failed to exhaust his administrative remedies, and that there was "virtually no chance" that he would have obtained an acquittal based on evidence. Affirmed.
Court: 8th Circuit, Judge: Erickson, Filed On: February 28, 2024, Case #: 23-1182, Categories: evidence, murder, child Victims
J. Thyer finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for murder based on sufficient evidence. The mother testified she left her 17-month-old child with defendant while running errands, following which she found her child unresponsive, defendant sweating, a hole in the living room wall and a broken bathroom sink. Though defendant claimed the child had choked on a grape, a CT scan revealed a skull fracture and no evidence of choking. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Thyer , Filed On: December 13, 2023, Case #: CR-23-126, Categories: evidence, murder, child Victims
Want access to unlimited case records and advanced research tools? Create your free CasePortal account now. No credit card required to register.
Try CasePortal for Free
J. Fader finds the lower court abused its discretion when it allowed evidence of defendant’s prior bad acts to be considered in this case of alleged murder and child abuse. Evidence was entered showing defendant pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in the death of his infant son five years prior. Despite his objection, the lower court allowed the evidence and defendant now argues it should have been excluded. Because the State failed to sufficiently show any other reason for the evidence, other than demonstrating defendant’s propensity to commit the alleged crime, it is a violation of Maryland Rule 5-404(b), and should have been disallowed. The matter is remanded for a new trial. Reversed.
Court: Supreme Court of Maryland, Judge: Fader, Filed On: November 28, 2023, Case #: 2/23, Categories: evidence, murder, child Victims
J. Groves finds that while one of the victim's minor siblings admitted to "squishing" a 2-year-old prior to his death, defendant's murder conviction is supported based, in part, on the fact that none of the treating physicians or the state's expert witnesses believed the blunt force injuries that caused the victim's death could have been caused by the 6-year-old sibling. Meanwhile, the trial court properly admitted the investigating officers' testimony about out-of-court statements made by the victim's mother because the evidence was used to explain the police investigation and did not prejudice defendant. Affirmed.
Court: Ohio Court Of Appeals, Judge: Groves, Filed On: May 25, 2023, Case #: 2023-Ohio-1747, Categories: evidence, murder, child Victims