Jury recommends life sentence for woman convicted in granddaughter's running death
A jury has recommended a life sentence without parole for an Alabama woman convicted of capital murder in her granddaughter’s running death.
The jury, by a vote of 7-5, rejected prosecutors’ request for a death sentence for Joyce Hardin Garrard in the February 2012 death of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin, the Associated Press reports.
Garrard, 50, was convicted of capital murder last week for forcing the girl to run for hours as punishment for telling a lie about eating candy.
Hardin was hospitalized and placed on life support after she suffered a seizure and collapsed. She later died.
The jury’s vote is only a recommendation. The final decision is up to Circuit Judge Billy Ogletree, who will sentence Garrard on May 11. However, prosecutors said they would not ask the judge to override the jury’s recommendation.
Dani Bone, Gerrard’s lawyer, said he would appeal the conviction.
“Joyce Garrard did not receive a fair trial,” he said.
But District Attorney Jimmie Harp said he was confident the conviction would be upheld.
“We believe Savannah Hardin received justice today,” he said.
