Wednesday, August 31, 2011

AMANDA BRUMFIELD: MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL DENIED; TO BE SENTENCED OCTOBER 6, 2011; APPEAL CONTEMPLATED;


"The star's daughter was convicted of the 2008 death of her best friend's 1-year-old daughter Olivia Madison Garcia.

While the 32-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter, she was acquitted of both first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

Judge Reginald Whitehead declared: "Defendant's motion for a new trial is denied." A source told Radar Online that Brumfield's defence team already plan to appeal against her sentencing."

ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER TOM EAMES; DIGITAL SPY;

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BACKGROUND: Amanda Brumfield was found not-guilty on first-degree murder and aggravated child-abuse charges, according to the State Attorney's Office. She is expected to face sentencing on the manslaughter charge in July. She maintained Olivia was trying to climb out of a playpen and fell a short distance, hitting her head. The defense suggested the fall may have aggravated a previous injury, causing her death. The prosecution argued it was "impossible" that a fall from that height caused a three-and-a-half inch fracture on the back of the girl's skull and the bleeding and swelling found in her brain." (Orlando Sentinel);
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"Billy Bob Thornton's estranged daughter Amanda Brumfield has been denied a new trial in her manslaughter case," the Digital Spy story by Entertainment Reporter Tom Eames published earlier today under the heading, "Billy Bob Thornton daughter denied new trial, faces 30 years in jail," begins.

"Brumfield was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter of a child in May, and a judge dismissed an appeal for a new trial. Her full sentence will be decided on October 6, where she faces up to 30 years in prison," the story continues.

"The star's daughter was convicted of the 2008 death of her best friend's 1-year-old daughter Olivia Madison Garcia.

While the 32-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter, she was acquitted of both first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

Judge Reginald Whitehead declared: "Defendant's motion for a new trial is denied." A source told Radar Online that Brumfield's defence team already plan to appeal against her sentencing.

Oscar winner Thornton fathered Brumfield in 1979 with his first wife Melissa Lee Gatlin, but their relationship in recent years is believed to have been strained."

The story can be found at:

http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a338107/billy-bob-thornton-daughter-denied-new-trial-faces-30-years-in-jail.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;