GUILTY AL - Savannah Hardin, 9, forced to run til she died, Etowah Co., 17 Feb 2012

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 14m14 minutes ago

Still in recess. They told jurors to be here at 7:50 this morning and it's been almost an hour. Heard several possibilities.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Good morning all! Good Googly Woogly, the suspense is driving me bonkers! Tap tap tap.........

 

[Paintr]

Maybe Grandmom is deciding to testify? :thinking:

 

[Queen Bee]

possibly a deal in the works? :thinking:

don't these people know i'm multi-tasking and following about a dozen cases.....let's get a move on

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 2m2 minutes ago

A tearful Joyce Garrard testified for about an hour that she did not mean any harm to her granddaughter Davannah in 2012.

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 4m4 minutes ago

She said Jessica ran that day, but it was "more like a jog and not a run."

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 4m4 minutes ago

Instead they spent 45 minutes picking up sticks until she "got her point across," she said.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 4m4 minutes ago

She said Jessica ran that day, but it was "more like a jog and not a run."

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 4m4 minutes ago

"I felt just as responsible as she did," Garrard said

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 5m5 minutes ago

Questioned by defense attorney Richard Rhea, Garrard said she was supposed to spank Savannah for lying on instructions of her ...

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 4m4 minutes ago

Garrard said Savannah vomited at first then had a seizure running up steps.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 4m4 minutes ago

She said when Savannah had her seizure, "all I could do was hold her."

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 3m3 minutes ago

She said she never intended harm for Savannah, and did not ask for a smoke. It was a throw, she said, for Savannah.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 3m3 minutes ago

Do you ever talk to Savannah? Rhea asked. "Yes," she said. "I pray for her everyday."

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 2m2 minutes ago

About earlier tweet - it was Jessica who told her to spank her for lying. I couldn't do it, Garrard said.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 1m1 minute ago

Back for cross examination.

 

[Queen Bee]

paintr you were right, grandmama was deciding to testify!!!

omg what i wouldn't have given to be there.......:gaah:

notice she blamed stepmommy jessica saying jessica wanted her to spank her......and she just couldn't do it.....

somehow it just didn't ring true:facepalm:........but then again, i'm a jaded bee

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 11m11 minutes ago

Joyce Garrard just finished testifying. Cross exam started at 11:15 am.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 10m10 minutes ago

Garrard continued to deny she ran the child, even though prosecutors played the bus video.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 11m11 minutes ago

At one point she said, "I'm the water police" when speaking about Savannah's water intake.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 9m9 minutes ago

Court resumes at 1:45 PM

 

[Shelby1]

I'm so grateful for William's tweets, but I sure wish I could see and hear for myself. Especially gramma on the stand. And, "water police" as in she was always harping for people to drink a lot of water?

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I don't have a twitter acct but can read what WT writes. It sounds to me like JG didn't help herself during cross. She denied running Savannah,even though the prosecuters played the school bus tape. At one point, she said "I'm the water police" regarding Savannah's water intake. WTH.

Queen Bee, I wish I could have been there also. Kudos to paintr for calling it right!

I hope William Thornton goes to one of the fine restrauants in beautiful downtown Gadsden and has a nice relaxing lunch. Then comes back to us with more info about the morning session and JG's testimony. I am so grateful to him for covering this case and to our dear Shelby1 for posting his tweets.

 

[Paintr]

Regardless of her tears now, I think Grandmom enjoyed her authority over this child....water police indeed!

 

[waltzingmatilda]

I'm so grateful for William's tweets, but I sure wish I could see and hear for myself. Especially gramma on the stand. And, "water police" as in she was always harping for people to drink a lot of water?

Who knows Shelby but that comment reminded me of the person who died at the radio station contest to win a car by continuously drinking water without going to the bathroom. This was several years ago but I think they called it internal drowning? from drinking too much water. So, IMO whether too much water or too little water it won't bring poor little beautiful Savannah back. And JG was witnessed pouring water into Savannah.

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 7m7 minutes ago

Includes testimony; Joyce Garrard testifies she would 'rather die' than harm Savannah Hardin http://s.al.com/69AvDKX via @aldotcom

 

[waltzingmatilda]

What questions would you all ask of this 'grandmother'? The first one off the top of my head is "Do you smoke?" #2 "How many bottles of water did Savannah consume?"

*EMS Reported that Savannah WAS covered in the yard when they arrived but I'd sure love to hear that 911 call and decide for myself!

ETA The al.com article WT just linked answers more of my questions. BTW the comments aren't too favorable for JG either.

 

[Queen Bee]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 7m7 minutes ago

Includes testimony; Joyce Garrard testifies she would 'rather die' than harm Savannah Hardin http://s.al.com/69AvDKX via @aldotcom

well, i was fine with LWOP but i say give her what she wants :furious:

 

[Queen Bee]

http://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/index.ssf/2015/03/joyce_garrard_testifies_in_sav.html

Reid recounted the testimony of the defense witness, pathologist James Lauridson, who testified Savannah would not have died without extreme physical exertion.

"I don't recall," she said of his testimony. "I haven't been paying attention to everything. I've got lawyers to do that."
---------------

quite the attitude there grandmama...........

imo she is a cold woman and quite used to ruling her roost

quite frankly, the testimony of HER pathologist sealed the deal for me.....if not for the physical exertion, savannah WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.........period......that child was running for over three hours, to the point of vomiting on all fours.......

what child do you know would have such fear in repercussions that they would continue to run to the point of vomiting?

:rose:savannah

 

[waltzingmatilda]

http://www.al.com/news/anniston-gadsden/index.ssf/2015/03/joyce_garrard_testifies_in_sav.html

Reid recounted the testimony of the defense witness, pathologist James Lauridson, who testified Savannah would not have died without extreme physical exertion.

"I don't recall," she said of his testimony. "I haven't been paying attention to everything. I've got lawyers to do that."
---------------

quite the attitude there grandmama...........

imo she is a cold woman and quite used to ruling her roost

quite frankly, the testimony of HER pathologist sealed the deal for me.....if not for the physical exertion, savannah WOULD NOT HAVE DIED.........period......that child was running for over three hours, to the point of vomiting on all fours.......

what child do you know would have such fear in repercussions that they would continue to run to the point of vomiting?

:rose:savannah

Agreed! I think both you and paintr have her pegged. She was angry with Savannah and ready to assert her power.

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 7m7 minutes ago

Defense rested, and state apparently won't have rebuttal.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 6m6 minutes ago

Judge and attorneys in chambers.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 6m6 minutes ago

A few observations - Joyce Garrard had everybody's attention. I saw jurors leaning forward to listen.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Oh and what kind person says "I don't recall," she said of his testimony. "I haven't been paying attention to everything. I've got lawyers to do that."

Huh? You aren't paying attention to your own trial when your LIFE is at stake? Lying again?

 

[Shelby1]

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 10m10 minutes ago

But the mention of Savannah running mostly came during cross examination.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 9m9 minutes ago

She started off with a comment about her husband "that good looking man" on the front row.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 8m8 minutes ago

This established a pattern of weird jokes, and odd moments of laughter. Don't want to make too much of it, but it didn't come off well.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 6m6 minutes ago

Just my opinion, but there were several moments that will stick in people's minds.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 6m6 minutes ago

In cross, Reid asked Joyce about an incident in the Children's waiting room observed by Savannahs birth mother...

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 6m6 minutes ago

...where Garrard took Jessica Hardin's head in both hands and told her to "hold it together. Don't you know what's riding on this?"

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 5m5 minutes ago

Garrard said she didn't recall that conversation.

WilliamThornton @billineastala · 5m5 minutes ago

Going back in.