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Testimony underway
State presents its case in toddler murder trial
BOlesEly
Torres Boles (left) and his public defender John Ely watch as the state presents evidence during the first day of testimony. Boles stands accused of murdering his daughter Andraia Boles in February 2013. - photo by Patty Leon

Six men and six women were chosen and the trial for alleged child murderer Torres Boles promptly started Monday afternoon at theLibertyCountyJusticeCenter.

Boles faces two counts of murder, three counts of cruelty to children and one count of deprivation of a child allegedly causing the death of his three year old daughter Andraia Boles at his Bannon Court home between Feb.26-27, 2013.

Atlantic Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Melissa Poole explained, during opening statements, that the state was ready to produce sufficient evidence to show Andraia Boles died of blunt force trauma. She said the state would prove the injuries were the result of Torres Boles’ punishment to the child the night before.

Boles’ public defender John Ely said he will present information proving his client was not with the child at the time of her death. He added that the actions of the child’s mother Candice Boles, before emergency personnel was called to the house, were questionable and would cast doubt about his clients culpability in his daughter’s death.

Candice Boles, the wife and co-defendant, will be tried at a later date. She is currently charged with party to murder and one count of cruelty of children.

Among the first witnesses called to the stand was Boles’ grandmother Gaynell Jacobs. She cried as the state posted a photo of young Andraia Boles. She said she had not seen Boles or her older sister Darria Boles for quite some time. She and the little girls’ father Torres Boles did not get along. She provided a brief explanation saying that she often spoke with her daughter Candice Boles about how her husband treated the children and how she disagreed with it.

The state then called several of the first responders, officers, paramedics andLibertyRegionalMedicalCentercontractor physician Dr. Bobby Herrington.

All described finding the child was cold to the touch, had no vital signs and had substantial swelling to the head area.

Dr. Herrington said the child’s body core body temperature was 84 degrees. He added the child had some rectal tearing. As he described the various injuries and degrees of trauma the jury watched as photos of the young girls’ battered body was placed on their viewers.

Torres Boles shifted in his seat and looked away from the monitor.

More compelling testimony followed as the state called Hinesville Police Detective Elizabeth Jackson to the stand.

For more than an hour Jackson and Poole presented evidence she had collected from the crime scene, including a dirty two-piece Tickle Me Elmo pajama Andraia Boles was likely wearing just before her death, a heavily soiled pair of socks that were worn by the toddler and a slew of objects and photos that showed where the detective had spotted what may be blood splatters or smears from the bathroom the child was enclosed in the time during which the incident occurred.

Among the evidence presented was a pair of size 12 sneakersJacksonsaid has what appears to be blood spots on the front.

The trial is expected to last until Wednesday and is being presented before Liberty County Superior Court Judge Charles P. Rose

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