Foster mom loses Supreme Court murder appeal

<p>A foster mom who admitted shaking a young boy before he died will not get a new trial, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday.</p><p>Angela Miller of Cherokee County is serving a life sentice for felony murder and cruelty to children for the 1997 death of her foster son, Jacob Miller.</p><p>Miller admitted shaking the 22-month-old boy and cursing at him, but told investigators that the boy knocked his own head on walls and his crib. Jacob later died of injuries to his head and spinal cord.</p><p>The woman asked for a new trial, saying jurors shouldnt have been shown disturbing pictures from the boys hospital stay and autopsy.</p><p>The court unanimously disagreed.</p><p>Graphic pictures of the badly injured body of a young child certainly carry the danger of undue prejudice. But, these photographs were relevant to issues before the jury, the court wrote.</p><p>The court also dismissed Millers claim that she isnt guilty of felony murder because she testified that she didnt mean to kill Jacob. Justices pointed out that jurors did not have to accept her testimony as true.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/3/174745