The trial for a Claiborne County, Mississippi woman accused of killing her stepdaughter will be moved to a new location.
According to court documents, the murder trial of T’Kia Bevily, which was initially going to take place in the Claiborne County Circuit Court on May 2, will now happen in the Monroe County Circuit Court.
SEE MORE: Mississippi Woman, Convicted of Capital Murder of a Toddler, Wants New Trial
In October 2017, 14-month-old Jurayah Smith died due to blunt force trauma to the head. Bevily and Jurayah’s father, Morris, was arrested and charged with capital murder in 2019 after it was learned that Smith was in their custody when she died.
Bevily was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder in January 2021, but her conviction was overturned after a judge found out a juror was related to the victim, resulting in Bevily getting a new trial.
In the documents, Bevily made a case for a change of venue by showing proof of prejudgment of the case and grudge toward her, claiming that she would not have a fair trial in Claiborne County.
The move was ordered by Claiborne County Circuit Court Judge Tomika H. Irving during a pretrial hearing that was held in Claiborne County Tuesday.
Bevily’s trial is still scheduled to happen on May 2 at 9 a.m.
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