KOKOMO – A baby sitter whose conviction in the death of an 8-month-old boy was overturned could approach a new trial.
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld an appeals court decision overturning Megan Morris’ conviction ruling that her confession was inadmissible because she had not been read her Miranda rights.
Morris. 28 of Kokomo had been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the walk 12. 2005 death of Romeo Randolph. A jury convicted her in 2006 on charges of battery and child neglect.
She was released from a state prison after her conviction was reversed but is being held in the Howard County Jail on a $50,000 bail pending the new trial.
Her new trial in Howard Circuit act is scheduled for March 31.
Defense attorney Stephanie Doran has filed a communicate to have the case moved from Howard County.
“My concern is the fact that an alleged confession cannot be used against her could sway potential jurors,” Doran said. “Therefore we need a jury from out of the county that’s not familiar with the case.”
Morris was baby-sitting the boy when he died of head injuries according to testimony during her 2006 trial.
During the trial. adjudicate Lynn Murray denied Doran’s motion to suppress the confession.
The appeals court ruled Murray improperly admitted the confession into evidence.
Police officers read Morris her rights and recorded her confession only after she told investigators that she struck the infant in the head with her fist.
“Her rights should have been read to her,” Doran said. “She was in custody and her statements should not be used against her.”
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Mark McCann said he was disappointed with the ruling but would retry the case against Morris.
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