The Murder of little Quinton Simon: Accused mom Leilani wants CERTAIN charges dropped
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA: Slain Georgia toddler Quinton Simon's murder suspect, his mother Leilani Simon, has filed a petition to be released from jail and asked to dismiss specific counts in her indictment. The 23-year-old mother stands accused of beating the 20-month-old to death before dumping his body at a Waste Management landfill, last October.
Leilani's lawyers have asked to remove certain charges, particularly malice murder and felony murder, citing that the charges were unclear "and/or collectively fail to allege any manner of death." Other charges in the filing include multiple counts of making a false statement, false report of a crime, and concealing the death of another, according to the docs. Her lawyers also filed paperwork claiming the mother who set Georgia police on a massive hunt 45 days before Quinton's body was recovered on November 18, had the right to not incriminate herself while she was being questioned by police.
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Leilani Simon has spent nearly 100 days in jail
This move comes after Leilani filed a desperate plea to be released from Chatham County Detention Center on a bond, after spending nearly 100 days in jail. According to Georgia state law, a bond must be set within 90 days of being in prison and after those 90 days have passed, the criminal defense attorney can nudge the court to either set it or release their client, reported The Sun. Leilani was arrested last November and entered a not-guilty plea to all 19 charges.
She remained the prime suspect in the case when she first reported her toddler son as missing from her house at Buckhalter Road on October 5 and later presumed dead on October 12. If the 23-year-old is released, she may be able to meet her legal team and view a crucial piece of video evidence that could be used against her while they prepare a case to be used in court, reported a criminal defense attorney.
Police found 'an object' Leilani Simon allegedly used to beat Quinton
Although it is unknown what evidence led to the arrest of the mother, it is believed to be "an object" Leilani used to beat Quinton that resulted in his death, according to an indictment seen by WSAV. Her bond was not set after an initial hearing as the judge present was not a superior court judge, reported the source. A scheduled hearing for an arraignment is expected to happen on March 23.