COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Georgia Supreme Court on Friday overturned the convictions of an Army couple accused of killing their newborn daughter in 2008.
Albert and Ashley Debelbot were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for the death of McKenzy Debelbot, who died three days after her parents brought her home from the Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning.
Authorities determined the infant died of blunt force trauma to the head, though prosecutors never said which parent allegedly killed McKenzy.
The child was born May 29, 2008, and cleared to go home the following afternoon, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
On June 1, her parents brought her back to the hospital, telling doctors they discovered a lump on McKenzy’s head. The baby was pronounced dead hours later.
Because Albert and Ashley Debelbot were the only people to see McKenzy after bringing her home, both were charged with her murder.
Following their joint trial, the Debelbots tried for years to appeal their convictions without any luck.
That all changed Friday when the state’s highest court determined the Columbus couple had ineffective legal counsel at their initial trial and unanimously agreed to reverse their convictions.
This story was written by Shaddi Abusaid for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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