WDNG Media - Charges downgraded against Savannah Hardin's stepmom

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Charges downgraded against Savannah Hardin's stepmom

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

New information came out today in court in the Savannah Hardin murder case. As you know, the prosecution claims her grandmother forced the little girl to run for three hours as punishment.

Wednesday, her grandmother and step-mother were in court, and there's a possibility the charges against Savannah's stepmother, Jessica Hardin may have been downgraded.

During the hearing a motion to amend the indictment against Jessica Hardin was granted. As the prosecution read the amendment the charges changed from felony murder and replaced with aggravated child abuse.

We could not ask the district attorney, nor the defense attorneys about it following the hearing because the judge essentially issued a gag order. We also are unable to get the amended indictment until Thursday because the clerk's office is closed. Savannah's grandmother, 46-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard of Attalla, has been charged with capital murder in the girl's death. Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp has said that he will pursue the death penalty against Garrard.

Garrard and Hardin were each originally charged with felony murder in Savannah's death. Garrard's charges were upgraded to capital murder March 1. The two women are accused of forcing Savannah to run laps around the family's house and carry wood for three hours before she collapsed and died three days later. Both women entered not guilty pleas today in court. A hearing to check on the status of these cases is set for June.

The judge also made it very clear there has to be a balance between protecting a fair trial, and protecting free speech. He ordered the attorneys to abide by the rules of professional conduct and not have this case be tried in the court of public opinion.

Thursday we will have more clarification regarding the charges against Jessica Hardin.

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Keywords: Hardin, prosecution, court, murder, stepmom

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