10-01-2015, 03:14 PM
TRIAL UNDERWAY
![[Image: 4023-leila-fowler.jpg]](http://cdn.isciencetimes.com/data/images/full/2013/05/13/4023-leila-fowler.jpg)
Murder victim: 8-year-old Leila Fowler
Yesterday, attorneys for a Valley Springs teen accused of murdering his younger sister requested the case be dismissed, arguing the people’s case hinges on circumstantial evidence that withers in the presence of reasonable doubt.
“The prosecution’s case requires a lot of assumptions,” said attorney Steve Plesser. “There’s active reasonable doubt here. We expect forensic evidence to paint a clean picture with clear answers and it doesn’t. The burden of proof is on them (the prosecution).”
Assigned Judge Thomas Smith denied the motion and said the defense will need to make its case before he offers a ruling.
The prosecution rested its week-long case on Friday. Members of Leila's family left the court room when pictures of the crime scene were shown. Leila was stabbed 20 times when home alone with her older brother, the accused Isiah Fowler.
Isiah Fowler told his parents and police that an intruder with long gray hair stabbed Leila and fled.
Prosecutors argued that it was actually Isiah Fowler who slashed, prodded and stabbed his 8-year-old sister more than 20 times back in April 2013. He was 12 at the time and has been incarcerated in a juvenile facility since his arrest two weeks after the killing.
Isiah’s attorneys claim there is little physical evidence against their client. They also say that law enforcement’s repeated use of coercive interviews and the fact there is no evidence of a cleanup undermines the entire prosecution.
Prosecutors counter that neighbors don’t corroborate Isiah’s account of the attack, which revolves around an unknown intruder assaulting Leila and escaping.
Murder victim: 8-year-old Leila Fowler
Yesterday, attorneys for a Valley Springs teen accused of murdering his younger sister requested the case be dismissed, arguing the people’s case hinges on circumstantial evidence that withers in the presence of reasonable doubt.
“The prosecution’s case requires a lot of assumptions,” said attorney Steve Plesser. “There’s active reasonable doubt here. We expect forensic evidence to paint a clean picture with clear answers and it doesn’t. The burden of proof is on them (the prosecution).”
Assigned Judge Thomas Smith denied the motion and said the defense will need to make its case before he offers a ruling.
The prosecution rested its week-long case on Friday. Members of Leila's family left the court room when pictures of the crime scene were shown. Leila was stabbed 20 times when home alone with her older brother, the accused Isiah Fowler.
Isiah Fowler told his parents and police that an intruder with long gray hair stabbed Leila and fled.
Prosecutors argued that it was actually Isiah Fowler who slashed, prodded and stabbed his 8-year-old sister more than 20 times back in April 2013. He was 12 at the time and has been incarcerated in a juvenile facility since his arrest two weeks after the killing.
Isiah’s attorneys claim there is little physical evidence against their client. They also say that law enforcement’s repeated use of coercive interviews and the fact there is no evidence of a cleanup undermines the entire prosecution.
Prosecutors counter that neighbors don’t corroborate Isiah’s account of the attack, which revolves around an unknown intruder assaulting Leila and escaping.