Alabama judge refuses to move woman's running-death trial

GADSDEN, Ala. — A judge is refusing to move the trial of an Alabama woman charged with capital murder in her granddaughter's running death.

Etowah County Circuit Judge Billy Ogletree issued a one-sentence order Friday denying a defense request to relocate the case to another county.

Attorneys are due in court Friday afternoon to pick a jury for the trial of 59-year-old Joyce Hardin Garrard of Boaz.

Prosecutors said Garrard made her 9-year-old granddaughter Savannah Hardin run for hours as punishment for a lie. The girl eventually collapsed and died later in a hospital.

Garrard said she's innocent. The defense said she meant the girl no harm.

Defense lawyers had asked the judge to move the trial outside of Gadsden citing pretrial publicity.

Garrard could receive the death penalty if convicted.

Upcoming Events