KENNEDY FORREST - 2 yo/ Accused: Jeremy James - Mobile AL

A Mobile man accused of murder in the death of a two-year old girl went to court Wednesday for a bond hearing. Judge Michael McMaken upgraded Jeremy James' charge of aggravated child abuse to murder and his bond was set at $30,000.
James
showed little emotion as he entered Judge McMaken's courtroom. He
listened as Assistant District Attorney Jo Beth Murphree asked for a
$100,000 bond.
The victim's loved ones were also in court, supporting a high bond.
"I would like to say his relationship with Kennedy was abusive," the victim’s aunt, Kimberly Washam, said.
The
state believes two-year-old Kennedy Forrest was burned intentionally
and wanted the judge to also consider prior allegations.
"I've
been told by witnesses that he had on previous occasions done things to
this child that were not appropriate, inappropriate physical
punishments," Murphree said.
In court, Murphree
said that in the days leading up to Kennedy's burn injury, James whipped
the child with a belt several times and then trapped her in her room by
boarding the door. Prosecutors said the day she was severely burned,
James beat her for taking cookies, then forced her into a scalding bath,
holding her there for a period of time.
Kennedy suffered for weeks in an intensive care burn unit until succumbing to her injuries.
James' attorney, Michael Murphy, said he believes there are two side to the story.
"I
believe this is tragic death of a child. Jeremy loved that child," he
said. "There is no truth, just because I don't believe a mother would
let you sit there and torture their child and there was another adult
present in the home. So I don't believe any of this transpired the way
they're characterizing the evidence."
Murphy said his client is terribly upset.
"He has a significant amount of sympathy for the mother and for the loss of this child," he said.
Murphy requested a lower bond. He said James is facing a number of health issues and shouldn't be incarcerated.
"He
is bipolar. He is epileptic. He has a number of seizures all the time
that requires a lot of medication, he is diabetic, hypertension and a
lot of other issues," Murphy said.
After assessing all factors, McMaken set the bond at $30,000.
Meanwhile, Forrest's family continues to seek justice for a little girl.
Washam said, "We are following it through to trial."
The preliminary hearing on James' murder charge is set for April 9.
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/james-charge-upgraded-to-murder

Jeremy James murder case sent to grand jury

Charged in the death of 2-year-old Kennedy Forrest

Updated: Monday, 09 Apr 2012, 11:05 AM CDT
Published : Monday, 09 Apr 2012, 11:05 AM CDT
MOBILE,
Ala. (WALA) - The case of Jeremy James, a Mobile man accused of murder
in the death of a two-year-old girl, is heading to a grand jury.
James appeared in court Monday for a preliminary hearing.
He
was originally charged with aggravated child abuse in the death of
Kennedy Forrest, who died on February 14. In March, that charge was
upgraded to murder.
James' bond on the murder charge was set at $30,000, which was posted.
The
state believes two-year-old Kennedy Forrest was burned intentionally
and wanted the judge to also consider prior allegations.
"I've
been told by witnesses that he had on previous occasions done things to
this child that were not appropriate, inappropriate physical
punishments," Assistant District Attorney Jo Beth Murphree said
previously.
James' attorney, Michael Murphy, said he believes there are two sides to the story.
"I
believe this is tragic death of a child. Jeremy loved that child," he
said in an earlier interview. "There is no truth, just because I don't
believe a mother would let you sit there and torture their child and
there was another adult present in the home. So I don't believe any of
this transpired the way they're characterizing the evidence."
A date for the trial has not been set.
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/jeremy-james-murder-case-sent-to-grand-jury