Child testifies in trial over grandmother's murder

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A 6-year-old took the stand in the trial for a man accused of killing her grandmother, describing the victim's last moments.

Channel 2's Tom Jones was in the Jonesboro courtroom where Zakiya took the stand Wednesday. Channel 2 has chosen to withhold the girl's last name due to the sensitive nature of the case.

Her mother's boyfriend, Latoris Grovner, is accused of beating her grandmother, Alena Marble, to death with a cooking pot and a vodka bottle last year. Police believe he did it because Marble didn't want Grovner dating her daughter.

Zakiya said she woke up that night and saw Grovner, 22, downstairs with her grandmother. The girl said her grandmother was screaming.

"I ran downstairs to get the phone. I was going to call 911," she said in court.

But Grovner stopped her from getting help, according to the girl's account. She pointed to her throat, saying he touched her on the neck.

"It felt painful," she said.

The girl said she later saw her grandmother in the trunk of a car.

"She said she will always love me in heaven," Zakiya said.

Grovner's attorney denies the charges. He is accused of attempting to cover up the death with the help of the child's mother, Kajul Harvey, 23. Grovner's attorney pointed the finger at Harvey. Her trial begins at a later date.

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WSBTV