News

High court taking case of man convicted in girl's death

Posted January 30, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The Michigan Supreme Court will hear the case of a Battle Creek man serving life in prison for the death of a 3-year-old girl.

The Battle Creek Enquirer reports (http://bcene.ws/1DhAMyZ ) Friday the state's high court will hear arguments in early March in the case of Leo Ackley. A jury convicted him of felony murder and first-degree child abuse for the August 2011 death of Baylee Stenman.

A Calhoun County judge granted a new trial, concluding his trial attorney didn't do enough to find medical experts to explain the case. The Michigan Court of Appeals overturned the decision.

Authorities say the then-25-year-old Ackley was watching Baylee while her mother was working. Ackley testified he didn't harm the girl but a pathologist says she died from a blow to the head.

___

Information from: Battle Creek Enquirer, http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com

Article Comments

Article Categories
News Region

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.