UPDATE: Jury Holds Fate of Katherine Bunnell
Hear the Jarring Closing Arguments Delivered in Court Wednesday
The Associated Press/ABC 6
Story Created:
May 14, 2008 at 6:39 PM EDT
Story Updated:
May 14, 2008 at 10:14 PM EDT
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A jury deliberates for several hours but fails to reach a verdict in the trial of a woman accused in the beating death of her 3-year-old nephew.
Katherine Bunnell is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the October 2004 death of Thomas "T.J." Wright.
Jurors heard wildly conflicting accounts of the boy's death during closing arguments today, with a prosecutor saying Bunnell struck the child repeatedly in the face and head and dragged him down the stairs after becoming upset over a mess in her Woonsocket apartment.
Bunnell's lawyer said that while his client slapped the toddler, she was not responsible for the fatal injuries.
He blamed her live-in boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, who is also charged and will be tried separately.
Jury deliberations resume tomorrow morning in Providence Superior Court.
ABC 6 reporter Colleen Harry has been following the trial and has the latest updates on Wednesday's emotional closing arguments...
Saturday, Aug 23 at 10:22 PM noneya wrote ...
where is the mother at this time? how can she walk away from her children when they mean so much to her!!!! I guess the time spent in a jail did her no good
Friday, May 23 at 10:57 AM Armanda wrote ...
What I believe is that no one really gets the full truth and knows what really happened except for who was there and what was done. What I do know is that a death of a innocent dear child has been taken but not before he was beaten to death. Someone needs to pay.
Thursday, May 15 at 7:08 PM Melissa Wright wrote ...
This Has been a hard deal for or family and I thank all the people who send their condolances. David, Makayla and Mickey are doing very well living with my parents- the grandparents of the children. And I hope the people that are judging the up bring of TJ know that not everyone in TJ life where white trash as I have read. Some people dont know how hard it was for our family to have gottn a phone call from RI when we live in MA at three in the morning that our Loved one was on machines to live.
Thursday, May 15 at 4:36 PM Its me wrote ...
Tanya I wonder if you have any children?????? The question goes unanswered I have two babies and they make messes all the time being a mother you underestand this is what children do.. Who she should of questioned was the babysitter not the child what was she doing while the baby was making such a mess...... I know gilbert did not do it but he should do time just for allowing this to happen....
Thursday, May 15 at 2:40 PM paula wrote ...
so tayna its must be ok to drag a 3 yrs old from their beds and beat them and pour milk on them . sorry but she started it and she had her hand in it. she should get punish for her part in this crime.i heard what she said she is guilty of it. just because of what she has spoken.its not right to abuse a child in any form. from winchendon,ma
Thursday, May 15 at 1:34 PM Anonymous wrote ...
any one who can treat a child like that should be behind bars!!!!!!
Thursday, May 15 at 1:10 PM Jane - Cumberland RI wrote ...
tayna are you kidding me? As the prosecutor said, she began and then escalated the violence in that apt that night. I cannot believe you would take the time to post something in defense of that scumbag. After everything she did to that innocent little baby? I hope she spends the rest of her life in jail, beaten daily by the other inmates.
Thursday, May 15 at 12:30 PM Valeria wrote ...
I believe she contributed to the death of that beautiful child. Valeria Smithfield, RI
Thursday, May 15 at 7:33 AM tanya wrote ...
i believe she is innocent and have felt so since this first aired in 2004 if tj was alive when she left to take the babysitter home then she is not guilty of murder she should be let out of prison winchendon ma
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