Mann v. Georgia
Annotate this CaseDavid Mann Jr. was convicted of malice murder and two counts of first degree cruelty to children in connection with the death of seven-year-old Ethan Martinez. Ethan was Mann’s girlfriend’s son. Mann told first responders that two days earlier, Ethan had fallen from a playset and hit his head. A CT scan showed bleeding along the side of Ethan’s brain, as well as brain swelling. Ethan was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where he was admitted with a traumatic brain injury. His other injuries included a circumferential bruise to his penis and scrotum, a bruised back, elevated liver enzymes, and retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes. Doctors eventually confirmed brain death, and Ethan was taken off life support. In his motion for a new trial, Mann argued the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; that the trial court committed reversible error in multiple instances; and that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. Because it concluded his claims are meritless, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed.
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