The godmother accused in the beating death of a 3-year-old southwest Atlanta boy last year maintains her innocence, an attorney representing the woman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday.
Glenndria Morris, along with sister Lashirley Morris, face malice and felony murder charges in the Oct. 21 death of Kejuan Mason at a home on Cleveland Avenue.
According to Atlanta police, LaShirley Morris beat the boy with a bat as punishment for eating a cupcake. Because she did not intervene during the fatal beating, Glenndria Morris also faces second-degree murder and second-degree child cruelty charges, according court records.
Kejuan lived with Glenndria Morris, who was also his legal guardian at the time of the killing.
Attorney Tameika Jackson withdrew her bond motion for Glenndria Morris in Fulton County Superior Court on Wednesday, but said she may consider a bond hearing for her client at a later date. The earliest the sisters could go to trial is January, but Jackson said no date has been confirmed.
An attorney for Lashirley Morris did not address the judge Wednesday.
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According to records obtained from the Division of Family and Children Services, Lashirley Morris used a bat to beat Kejuan in the head, stomach, back, arms and legs as punishment for eating a cupcake, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Another child living in the home witnessed the beating and identified Lashirley Morris as the one wielding a bat.
Kejuan died from blunt for trauma to the head and torso.
Atlanta police said Glenndria Morris gave two different stories about what occurred.
She initially told police she gave Kejuan and four other children inside the home cupcakes and that he began choking on it, The AJC previously reported. Glenndria Morris then told police she and a man gave Kejuan CPR and that first responders took too long to arrive.
She later changed her story and told police Kejuan was choking on the cupcake, but that it was removed, and he was “fine breathing and talking later,” according to the report. Glenndria Morris told police Kejuan went to sleep, but he was unresponsive when they checked on him. When he didn’t wake up, 911 was called.
Both women are also charged with aggravated assault and first and third-degree child cruelty.
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