BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) - A Battle Creek man retried for the 2011 death of his former girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter has been convicted of felony murder and first-degree child abuse.
A Calhoun County Circuit Court jury deliberated more than 10 hours before reaching the verdict Thursday against 30-year-old Leo Ackley in the blunt force trauma death of Baylee Stenman.
The Michigan Supreme Court unanimously overturned Ackley’s original murder conviction, saying a defense lawyer didn’t adequately prepare for a case dominated by expert opinions.
In the retrial, defense attorney Andrew Rodenhouse argued the medical science of abusive head trauma is flawed and a defense expert witness testified an autopsy was incomplete and didn’t prove when or how Baylee was injured.
A prosecution witness testified the injury was severe and Baylee would have shown immediate symptoms.
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