Judge Orders New Trial For Woman In Child Cruelty Case

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — A state district judge has vacated the four-year prison sentence for a woman accused of cruelty to her children and ordered a new trial.

KPLC-TV reports Judge David Ritchie on Tuesday said Jasmine Stanley's case should be retried, in part, because of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Stanley was initially represented by a public defender who says his huge caseload and underfunding resulted in ineffective representation of Stanley. Defense attorneys later hired by Stanley say they have evidence they believe proves she is innocent. Attorney Adam Johnson predicts the charges against he will be dropped.

No new trial date has been sent.

Stanley was arrested in February 2009 after her 18-month-old daughter was hospitalized with head injuries.

Johnson says his client has maintained her innocence since the charges were brought.

Filed Under: child cruelty case