The attorney defending a young woman accused of aggravated child neglect said many witnesses from a trial last fall — in which the woman’s ex-boyfriend was acquitted of murder in the child’s death — were not credible.
Lee Davis, who represents Traci Carpenter, said Monday that he is waiting on the trial transcripts so he can corroborate the “incredulity” of the witnesses who largely blamed Ms. Carpenter for the young girl’s death and helped to convince the jury to find defendant Brian Rutherford not guilty of child abuse and first-degree murder.
“There were several witnesses that were unbelievable,” Mr. Davis said, declining to name the witnesses to which he referred.
Ms. Carpenter faces 15-25 years in prison if she is convicted of aggravated child neglect. Her trial is set for Oct. 6.
After Mr. Rutherford’s acquittal last fall, prosecutors said they still believe Mr. Rutherford was responsible for 18-month-old Sierra Carpenter’s death.
The child died of blunt-force trauma to the head.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
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