A Louisiana woman has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the shaking death of an 18-month-old child.
Tatianna Burns, 42, was convicted on Thursday in Caddo District Court for the June 2020 death of the toddler, identified only as “A.W.” Trial evidence revealed that Burns was not related to the victim and had reportedly shaken the child for nearly an hour.
Judge Donald Hathaway presided over the case. Burns will be sentenced on July 23rd. Under Louisiana law, she faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
Read: Tampa Man Charged With Murder Following Fatal Stabbing And Prior Homicide
Four medical doctors testified for the prosecution, confirming that the child’s death was caused by acute, abusive head trauma consistent with violent shaking.
The defense argued that Burns had no motive and questioned the medical evidence, but ultimately the judge found the evidence against Burns to be overwhelming.
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