Convicted Baby Grace mom~Trenor to appeal

[awakening2lite]

EXCERPT

GALVESTON (February 5, 2009)--Attorneys say they intend to appeal the capital murder conviction of a woman who received an automatic life sentence for the murder of her 2-year-old daughter during a daylong discipline session during which the girl was whipped with belts and flung across the room, fracturing her skull.


A fisherman found the girl’s body in a container on an island in Galveston Bay.


Investigators called the toddler “Baby Grace” until they identified her as Riley Ann Sawyers.


On Monday a jury in Galveston convicted the girl’s mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 20, of capital murder in the toddler’s death.


Prosecutors weren’t seeking the death penalty, so she was automatically sentenced to life without parole.


http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/39148147.html

[Roamer]

Let them appeal. I feel safe in saying no jury is going to feel sorry for her.

[awakening2lite]

Attorney files appeal in ‘Baby Grace’ case

By Chris Paschenko (http://galvestondailynews.com/contact.lasso?ewcd=0d7b5bd008497171a80206e4e8c09ac d8a570c787301de7ed14e7f7129c19723)
The Daily News Published February 4, 2009




Dressed in dark green jail clothes, convicted child-killer Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 20, was freed from her handcuffs Tuesday to embrace her mother.

Shirley Williams told Trenor, “I love you,” in a soft voice.

Bailiffs then escorted Trenor from Judge David Garner’s 10th District Court to the county jail, where she will remain for perhaps 48 hours until the state transfers her to temporary confines at a Huntsville prison, her attorney said.

Trenor’s capital murder trial in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Riley Ann Sawyers, ended Monday night with a guilty verdict. Jurors reached the unanimous decision in just 105 minutes of deliberation.

Garner sentenced Trenor to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The sentence became automatic because prosecutors didn’t seek the death penalty.

Trenor’s attorney, Tom Stickler of Alvin, filed notice Tuesday of intent to appeal the verdict and said attorney Greg Russell of League City would review her case.

Trenor declined to address the court before sentencing, and Galveston County Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said there was no impact statement from the state.

Sheryl Sawyers, Riley’s grandmother who testified in the case, wasn’t present for Trenor’s sentencing.

“She didn’t want to be here and couldn’t make it,” said Laura DePledge, Sawyers’ attorney.

Sawyers testified of her desperate attempts to learn Trenor and Riley’s whereabouts after they moved from her Ohio home to Texas.

Trenor married Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 25, of Spring, on June 1, 2007, after meeting him on the Internet.

Riley died July 25, 2007, after a daylong disciplinary session went to far, Trenor told authorities.

Trenor also implicated Zeigler in helping to conceal evidence and dumping Riley’s remains in Galveston Bay.

A fisherman found her body three months later in a storage box that washed up on an island.

Homicide investigators with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office named the girl “Baby Grace” until Trenor’s Nov. 23 interview revealed the child’s identity.

Zeigler is also charged with capital murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Zeigler’s lawyers say he’s innocent and Trenor’s story implicating him is false. His trial hasn’t been set.

Russell and Stickler will review Trenor’s case to learn whether there are grounds for an appeal, Stickler said.

Once the court reporter and District Court clerk complete their records, the attorneys have 30 days — barring extensions — to draft a brief to file in one of the two state appeals courts in Houston, Russell said.

Jail deputies are checking Trenor several times each hour to ensure her safety, which is standard procedure for inmates in high-profile cases, said Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f08254f9da4e31fdc8545f57966c90b3

[LiveLaughLuv]

That's her civil right to file an appeal but the Appeals Court can deny it or accept it but it would be fruitless. The jurors spoke and it took only 105 minutes to do so. The evidence speaks for itself and those jurors made a right decision.

Isn't it always the blame game?

Trenor married Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 25, of Spring, on June 1, 2007, after meeting him on the Internet.

Riley died July 25, 2007, after a daylong disciplinary session went to far, Trenor told authorities.

Trenor also implicated Zeigler in helping to conceal evidence and dumping Riley’s remains in Galveston Bay.

A fisherman found her body three months later in a storage box that washed up on an island.

Zeigler is also charged with capital murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Zeigler’s lawyers say he’s innocent and Trenor’s story implicating him is false. His trial hasn’t been set.

Russell and Stickler will review Trenor’s case to learn whether there are grounds for an appeal, Stickler said.


What an error in judgement. Meet a guy on the internet, marry them and in less than 30 days, her baby's dead. :madranting94dp:

I'm sorry I didn't watch this trial, I know Zeigler's trial has not taken place yet. I thought Zeigler was the one who carried out that daylong discipline session? He's charged with capital murder and tampering with physical evidence. There is also a law, if you are there even if you didn't participate in a crime you are just as guilty as if you did take part. So, I'm sure he too will be given LWOP, hopefully those fine jurors will get it right twice..

Rest in Peace Riley Ann :1222423:

You've received half of your justice. The other half will be taken care of soon.

[awakening2lite]

That's her civil right to file an appeal but the Appeals Court can deny it or accept it but it would be fruitless. The jurors spoke and it took only 105 minutes to do so. The evidence speaks for itself and those jurors made a right decision.

Isn't it always the blame game?



What an error in judgement. Meet a guy on the internet, marry them and in less than 30 days, her baby's dead. :madranting94dp:

I'm sorry I didn't watch this trial, I know Zeigler's trial has not taken place yet. I thought Zeigler was the one who carried out that daylong discipline session? He's charged with capital murder and tampering with physical evidence. There is also a law, if you are there even if you didn't participate in a crime you are just as guilty as if you did take part. So, I'm sure he too will be given LWOP, hopefully those fine jurors will get it right twice..

Rest in Peace Riley Ann :1222423:

You've received half of your justice. The other half will be taken care of soon.

EXCERPT ~
Sistrunk didn’t seek the death penalty in Trenor’s case, citing previous case law that says parents who kill their children are not a threat to others and that any death sentence imposed would likely be overturned.

Zeigler’s capital murder trial date hasn’t been set. If convicted, Trenor faces automatic life in prison without the possibility of parole.

http://galvestondailynews.com/story....1b95c56c7db82f (http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=7c1b95c56c7db82f)


There is also the matter of a letter Trenor wrote where she took responsibility, Ziegler might be able to use that in his trial. And there is discussion as to whether or not her statements that he did it will be allowed because they were married. I don't think that will fly and I believe the statements will be allowed. IMO

I'll have to look up the appeal for LWOP in Texas. It could be that like other states there is one opportunity to appeal for a new trial and then the appeal process is over. Just not sure about it.

IMO

[Audie]

Appeal for mother of 'Baby Grace' over capital murder conviction in toddler's 2007 death

By Associated Press 6:32 AM CST, November 10, 2009

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — A new trial is sought for the mother of a toddler dubbed "Baby Grace" after her unidentified body turned up in Galveston Bay.

An attorney for 21-year-old Kimberly Dawn Trenor says he mailed her capital murder appeal Monday to an appeals court in Houston.

Greg Russell told the Galveston County Daily News that he is raising mental health and evidence issues.

Trenor in February was convicted in the 2007 death of 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers, whose battered body had been found in a container in Galveston Bay.

Relatives in Mentor, Ohio, identified the girl from media reports.

Trenor's husband and Riley's stepfather, 26-year-old Royce Clyde Zeigler II, was convicted Friday of capital murder. He and his wife received life prison terms. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.

Information from: The Galveston County Daily News, http://www.galvnews.com

http://www.39online.com/news/sns-ap-tx--babygrace-appeal,0,1614313.story