Smith v. Georgia
Annotate this CaseAppellant Mary Katherine Smith was convicted of felony murder based on cruelty to children in connection with the death of her two-year-old son Mason “Tucker” Smith. Tucker did not wake following what was described as one of his breath-holding temper tantrums (where he would hold his breath until he passed out). Investigators would later determine Tucker suffered rotational force injuries, blunt force trauma. The child had nine healing rib fractures which may have been inflicted weeks earlier—injuries consistent with being hit, spanked and forceful squeezing. Smith contended on appeal of her conviction that the evidence was insufficient to support her convictions, and that the trial court erred by excusing a juror and by declining to give a jury instruction on her good character. Finding no reversible error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.