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Thread: T’kia Bevily Found Not Guilty in 2017 MS Murder of 14 Month Old Jurayah Smith

  1. #1
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
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    T’kia Bevily Found Not Guilty in 2017 MS Murder of 14 Month Old Jurayah Smith

    BA794BC0-E00B-4576-AEE7-DCAC59B64B47.jpeg
    Jurayah Smith (Left), T’kia Bevily (Right)

    Woman found guilty of Capital Murder in death of 14-month-old stepdaughter

    CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Miss. —
    T’Kia Bevily was found guilty of Capital Murder Friday in the death of her stepdaughter, 14-month-old Jurayah Smith.

    During the five-day-long trial, evidence was presented that showed the baby sustained multiple “blunt-force trauma” injuries to her head resulting in her death.

    According to Claiborne County's District Attorney Daniella Shorter, these injuries occurred while the child was in the sole custody of the defendants, T’Kia and Morris Bevily, the baby’s father.

    “I could not be prouder of my prosecution team which brought Jurayah’s murderer to justice," DA Shorter said. "Now Jurayah’s family can finally have some peace knowing that T’Kia Bevily will be in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.”

    A date has not been set yet for T'Kia Bevily's sentencing.

    Baby Jurayah was killed on Oct. 22, 2017, and her death was ruled a homicide.

    The child's mother, DeDreuna Smith released this statement after the verdict:

    “I’d like to thank God, along with the District Attorney & the state of Mississippi for pursuing Justice on behalf of my 14-month-old daughter. Knowing that the person responsible for the homicide of my precious Jurayah is being held accountable for their actions brings a feeling of relief over my whole family. Receiving this guilty verdict is only the start of the healing process for my family, our friends, loved ones & myself. We’re grateful for the outcome and we’re hopeful for the peaceful closure that this process has brought.”

    Morris Bevily’s trial is slated to begin Feb. 1.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wap...ghter/35367454
    Last edited by Bobsicles; 02-05-2021 at 03:48 PM.
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

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    Family cherishes capital murder conviction for slain toddler’s stepmother

    JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Dedreuna Smith of Port Gibson found her daughter Jurayah lifeless in her father’s home in October of 2017.
    It’s a terrible memory. But she also has memories of the joy Jurayah brought her -- she loved to dance and sing, and she loved her family.
    Smith scrolls through her phone, pointing out pictures of Jurayah smiling and waving and with her family, now forever 14 months old.
    Smith won’t make any comment on T’Kia Bevily, Jurayah’s stepmother. Bevily was convicted of capital murder Friday in Jurayah’s death after investigators say the child had blunt force trauma in three places on her head.

    But Smith knows what she’d say to Bevily, if they were face to face.
    “You had a chance to say you didn’t want my daughter around, you had plenty enough time to say, ‘Come and get her,’” Smith said. “All I want to know is why? What was the reason when you could have just told me to come and get her?”
    It’s been tough for Jurayah’s family as they waited first for an autopsy and charges, and then for justice.
    “It’s been hard, I’ve been losing sleep, I’ve been having nightmares, but we got justice, so I’m going to be okay,” said Jurayah’s grandmother, Lolita Smith.

    “This last three years, like I say, it’s been quite hell,” said Dedreuna Smith. “We’ve been fighting so long, and we didn’t know which way it was going to go. It’s been a struggle.”
    Morris Bevily’s capital murder trial starts Monday. All the Smiths could say is that they will be relieved when it’s over as well. And Smith says she can’t wait to see Jurayah in Heaven.
    “We got justice, baby girl,” she said. “That’s all we were waiting on. I’m going to dance with you as soon as I get to the grave.”

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wlo...outputType=amp
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

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    Claiborne Co. woman sentenced to life without parole in death of 14-month-old stepdaughter

    CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Miss. —
    The woman convicted in the death of her 14-month-old stepdaughter was sentenced Thursday in Claiborne County.

    T'Kia Bevily was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

    Claiborne County District Attorney Daniella Shorter said this is the only sentence that can be given in a Capital Murder case by the Circuit Court Judge when the District Attorney does not seek the death penalty.

    T’Kia Bevily was found guilty of capital murder on Jan. 24 in connection with the October 2017 death of Jurayah Smith.

    During the five-day-long trial, evidence was presented that showed the baby sustained multiple “blunt-force trauma” injuries to her head resulting in her death.

    According to Claiborne County's District Attorney Daniella Shorter, the injuries occurred while the child was in the sole custody of the defendants, T’Kia and Morris Bevily, the baby’s father.

    The child's mother, DeDreuna Smith, released this statement after the verdict:

    “I’d like to thank God, along with the District Attorney & the state of Mississippi for pursuing Justice on behalf of my 14-month-old daughter. Knowing that the person responsible for the homicide of my precious Jurayah is being held accountable for their actions brings a feeling of relief over my whole family. Receiving this guilty verdict is only the start of the healing process for my family, our friends, loved ones & myself. We’re grateful for the outcome and we’re hopeful for the peaceful closure that this process has brought.”

    Morris Bevily’s trial was slated to begin Feb. 1 but has been postponed. A new date has not been announced.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wap...ghter/35367454
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

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    Judge grants new trial in toddler death case

    T'Kia Bevily was previously found guilty in the death of stepdaughter Jurayah Smith

    By Erin Pickens
    WAPT News

    CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Miss. — A Claiborne County judge granted a new trial for a woman who was convicted of killing her stepdaughter, 14-month-old Jurayah Smith.

    The decision was made after a request by T'Kia Bevily's attorney.

    He stated in court documents that there were jurors who were related to the dead toddler's family, which was not disclosed during jury selection.

    In the order filed in circuit court Tuesday, Judge Tomika Irving said, "Evidence is overwhelming that Juror No. 24 withheld material information during voir dire which would have resulted in him being challenged by the defendant."

    According to court documents, the toddler's aunt is the juror's niece.

    In January, T'Kia Bevily was found guilty of capital murder in the October 2017 death of Jurayah Smith.

    She was sentenced to life without parole a few weeks later.

    The child died from blunt-force trauma to her head.

    In April, there was a hearing to discuss overturning Bevily's conviction and granting a new trial but Judge Irving issued a gag order to prevent anyone involved with the case from discussing it.

    Jurayah's father, Morris Bevily, is awaiting trial for capital murder.

    https://www.wapt.com/article/van-nuy...r-old/37505556
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Hearing held in capital murder case of Jurayah Smith

    By Patrice Clark
    WLBT News

    CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) - A Claiborne County woman accused of killing her stepdaughter was in court Monday

    Last year, T’Kia Bevily was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering her stepdaughter, 14-month-old Jurayah Smith. But her conviction was overturned after a judge learned a juror was related to the victim in the case.

    The hearing lasted for about an hour and the defense and prosecution presented a range of motions. Some were denied by the judge and others were granted.

    T’Kia Bevily and Jurayah’s father, Morris, are both facing capitol murder charges for the toddler’s death.

    Jurayah Smith was killed in October 2017 after sustaining multiple blunt force trauma to the head. The judge ordered the prosecution to turn over DNA slides of the child to the defense, so its team of experts can examine them.

    The defense was ordered to turn over information regarding witnesses they plan to call during the trial to the prosecution.

    The most notable ruling was the judge’s exclusion of evidence related to allegations of criminal conduct on the part of the medical examiner.

    Another pre-trial hearing will be held on April 19 in Copiah County. Bevily is currently out on a million-dollar bond. Her trial date is set for May 2.

    https://www.wlbt.com/2022/04/04/hear...jurayah-smith/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  6. #6
    Senior Member CnCP Addict maybeacomedian's Avatar
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    Jurayah Smith


    Day 3: Request for Mistrial Denied in T’Kia Bevily Murder Trial

    - By Quentin Smith, Jackson WLBT | May 4, 2022 -

    MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) — It was a chaotic Day 3 in the capital murder trial for T’Kia Bevily.

    Testimony was paused for a while after the judge had issues with the pool camera inside the courtroom.

    When the trial started, the Hattiesburg Patriot News Media was the only camera Judge Tomika Irving allowed inside the courtroom. Now, that will no longer be the case.

    The judge denied that camera request after she said the photographer kept a Facebook Live feed going even after she sent the court into recess for lunch.

    Following that decision, investigators searched the entire courtroom for any audio or listening devices. Also following that decision, defense attorney Dennis Sweet requested the first of two mistrials.

    Both were denied.

    During Wednesday’s trial, prosecutors continued to interview James Jefferson. He’s a former investigator with the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department. Prosecutors showed two videos of two different interviews Jefferson and the sheriff’s department did with T’Kia.

    One when she was not a suspect, and one when she was.

    In the video, you hear investigators asking T’Kia about Jurayah’s death and what happened leading up to her death.

    In the second video, investigators notify T’Kia that Jurayah’s death has been ruled a homicide, and that reports show the 14-month-old suffered head injuries.

    Video shows T’Kia becoming emotional and expressing that she had nothing to do with the injuries nor death, and had no idea how either could’ve happened.

    However, District Attorney Daniella Shorter is presenting a case refuting those claims. She asked the witness if there were any discrepancies in the two videos.

    Some of the main ones highlighted are T’kia having two different descriptions of what Jurayah was wearing the night she died, and noises the 14-month-old was making not long after she was put into her crib to go to sleep.

    Meanwhile, Sweet accused Jefferson and other investigators of not getting to the bottom of things regarding Jurayah’s death, accusing them of only getting statements from T’Kia and not following up on anything after that.

    Prosecutors say they still have at least 10-12 more witnesses they plan on calling to the stand. The court is in recess until Thursday morning at 9 o’clock.

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ial/ar-AAWVXZQ
    https://archive.ph/s7hC5

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    Day 8: Doctors say Jurayah Smith’s manner of death was not homicide; prosecutors disagree

    By Quentin Smith
    WLBT News

    MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) - Wednesday was Day 8 in the capital murder trial for T’Kia Bevily.

    The Claiborne County woman is charged with capital murder in the death of her 14-month-old stepdaughter, Jurayah Smith.

    Prosecutors spent the past seven days calling their witnesses to the stand and presenting their case.

    On Wednesday, it was the defense’s turn.

    Defense attorneys called two witnesses to the stand to testify.

    Both medical experts, both doctors, both saying they don’t believe Jurayah’s cause of death is multiple blunt force trauma to the head, and they don’t believe the manner of death is a homicide.

    Dr. Peter Dehnel, who’s a pediatrician, and Dr. William Truly, who’s a family and emergency medicine specialist and also the Mayor of Canton, both gave similar opinions.

    Dr. Dehnel stated that through photos and evidence he’s looked at, and based on Jurayah’s external appearance when she died, he does not believe there were any significant internal head injuries that led to her death.

    Medical experts point out that Jurayah did have a linear skull fracture and they believe she got it at least 14 days before the day she died.

    However, witnesses and medical experts expressed they don’t think that played a role in her death.

    While on stand, Dr. Truly testified that medical records and photos he’s obtained do not indicate Jurayah was abused or neglected, and he believes the manner of her death is undetermined.

    Prosecutors disagree. They point out that Truly and Dehnel are the only ones with that opinion, and that four other medical experts stated multiple blunt force trauma to the head was the cause of death and homicide is the manner.

    District Attorney Daniella Shorter pointed to a video on October 21st, where 14-month-old Jurayah could be seen walking and appearing to be “fine,” according to those who were with her.

    The DA argued the video is evidence the head injuries came afterwards when Jurayah made it home in the care of the defendant, T’Kia Bevily, and her husband Morris Bevily, the child’s father.

    In court, Shorter said Jurayah wouldn’t have been able to walk and be herself, as shown in the video with those injuries.

    But, Dr. Truly testified that there is no way he could tell with confidence whether Jurayah had received a head injury at that time just by looking at the video.

    Defense attorneys are expected to call Dr. Stephen Godfrey, an anatomical pathologist, to the stand as their next witness. Court is in recess until 9 o’clock Thursday morning.

    https://www.wdam.com/2022/05/12/day-...-not-homicide/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  8. #8
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    T’Kia Bevily found not guilty of capital murder

    By Rachel Hernandez
    WJTV News

    MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – T’Kia Bevily was found not guilty of capital murder on Friday, May 13.

    Bevily was accused of killing her stepdaughter in October 2017. Investigators said the cause of death to then 14-month-old Jurayah Smith was blunt force trauma to the head.

    In February 2021, Bevily was sentenced to life without parole, days after a jury convicted her of capital murder for the death of Smith. However, she was granted a new trial in Sept. 2021 because one of the jurors failed to disclose he is related to the child’s mother.

    Attorney Dennis Sweet said she was found not guilty during a retrial in the Monroe County Circuit Court.

    https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news...apital-murder/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  9. #9
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    Motion filed to dismiss capital murder charges against Morris Bevily

    D.A. states "insufficient evidence to prosecute this matter at this time"

    CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Miss. —
    A motion has been filed to dismiss the case against a man accused of killing his 14-month-old daughter by the district attorney's office.

    The 22nd Circuit Court Assistant assistant district attorney Patrick E. Beasley filed the motion Friday stating the State of Mississippi has "insufficient evidence to prosecute this matter at this time."

    Bevily and his wife T'Kia were indicted for capital murder charges in 2019 for the death of his daughter, Jurayah Smith. T'Kia was found not guilty by a jury during her trial on May 13.

    The motion for dismissal will be brought before a judge to make a decision.

    https://www.wapt.com/amp/article/mot...evily/40129641
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

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