Home / Crime and Justice / New Trial Granted in 2002 Infant Death Case
New Trial Granted in 2002 Infant Death Case
22 Jul
Summary
- Man convicted in 2002 infant death granted a new trial.
- New medical evidence challenges shaken baby syndrome diagnosis.
- Father spent over 20 years asserting his innocence.
Danyel Smith, convicted in the 2002 death of his 2-month-old son Chandler, has been granted a new trial by Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Gallant. Smith, who has maintained his innocence for over two decades, was originally sentenced to life in prison based on a diagnosis of abusive head trauma, then known as shaken baby syndrome.
Recent advancements in medical understanding of shaken baby syndrome were presented by Smith's legal team, featuring testimony from eight doctors. They argued that current medical knowledge might lead to a conclusion of natural causes for Chandler's death. This new evidence was presented in an extraordinary motion for a new trial.
Despite the conviction, Smith's son's mother, Marsha Brandon, had previously stated Smith was a good caregiver. The Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office opposed the motion, presenting their own medical experts and Brandon's testimony. Smith refused a plea deal for manslaughter, opting to continue asserting his innocence.
The case has a complex procedural history, including a denied motion for a new trial in 2007 and an appeal to the state Supreme Court. The state Supreme Court's decision in October reversed a previous denial, sending the case back to Gwinnett courts, where it was assigned to Judge Gallant.
