The Georgia Supreme Court (SCOGA) has upheld the murder conviction and life sentence of a woman implicated in the 2015 murder of a Gainesville taxi cab driver.
Margarita Jean Leanos challenged the sufficiency of the evidence used to convict her in the murder of Isaias Tovar-Murillo. She also claimed her trial attorney was incompetent and failed to represent her adequately in court.
In arguments presented to SCOGA, Leanos claimed evidence presented at trial showed she did not knowingly participate in the robbery and subsequent murder of Tovar-Murillo. Leanos argued that the evidence showed her three co-defendants deceived her, hiding from her their true intent to rob the cab driver.
Additionally, Leanos said her trial counsel - among other things - failed to provide a "cohesive defense" for her in court.
In the decision handed down Monday morning, the justices disagreed with both arguments.
Leanos was convicted in October 2015 on a list of charges related to the March 15, 2015 murder of Tovar-Murillo. She is currently serving a life sentence plus five years for felony murder predicated on attempt to commit armed robbery, attempt to commit armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and two counts of participation in a criminal street gang. Leanos appealed her conviction and sentence to the trial court, but that motion was denied in October 2016.
Follow this link to read the entirety of the Georgia Supreme Court decision.
