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Move requested for death penalty case
Woman accused of killing toddler
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Attorneys for a woman facing a death penalty case have filed for a change of venue in Liberty County Superior Court.
Andrea Renee Wilson, along with her boyfriend, Corey Brown, are accused of murdering 2-year-old Prince Davis Jr. in the couple’s Riceboro residence in January. The arrest came after autopsy reports showed the child died of multiple blunt force trauma and malnutrition.
Wilson is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felony murder and two counts of cruelty to children.
Her attorneys filed a motion with Liberty County Superior Court asking for an evidentiary hearing on their request for a new venue. The defenders contend that because the case involves the death of a child and widespread news coverage in print and on television, it would be impossible to find a group of impartial jurors in Liberty county.
The motions document on file with the Clerk of County Courts office reads, “The defendant is on trial for her life. The state, through the district attorney, is seeking the death penalty of death by electrocution.”
The document goes on to read, “Georgia laws provides that the defendant, in any criminal case, in which a trial by jury is provided, may move in writing for a change in venue whenever, in his judgment, an impartial jury cannot be obtained where the crime is alleged to have been committed.”
In addition, Wilson’s attorney filed a motion outlining the potential questionnaire possible jurors would have to fill out prior to being selected.
The form has 51 questions ranging from potential jurors’ thoughts on the death penalty to questions such as “What is your favorite TV program?”
Jurors will have to list most of their acquaintances and also explain if and how they are related to District Attorney Tom Durden.
These two motions are in addition to the 30 previously filed motions that are being heard at a motions hearing scheduled for Nov. 14. Some of those motions include requests that psychiatric history of all potential state witnesses be made available to the defense before testifying and a request to allow evidence at sentencing regarding execution by lethal injection.
The child’s grandmother has filed a request for restitution using Georgia’s Victim Impact Request forms seeking at least $33,000 in restitution to cover the expense ranging from funeral costs to the mental counseling that Davis’ two siblings are currently receiving and may require for some time.
She said the situation has turned the family’s lives upside down and the child’s mother continues to be distraught over what occurred.
Brown, the co-defendant, is facing the same charges as Wilson. His attorneys have also filed approximately 40 motions, including a motion to strike as unconstitutional articles regarding the imposition of the death penalty in chapter 10 of title 17 of the official code of Georgia.
His motions’ hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.
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