MARSHALL (WKZO-AM) — The murder trial of Anthony Ball has gone to the jury. The 30-year-old from Marshall is charged with the death of 20 month old Athena Ramey, the daughter of his girlfriend at the time, Briana Richards.
Monday is the two year anniversary of her death.
Pathologists testified that the child died from a severe brain trauma that she allegedly suffered while in his care. But the prosecution was unable to demonstrate any pattern of abuse, in fact Ball was caring for his own two daughters as well as Athena when the child stopped breathing.
There has been testimony that the child had been ill, and had been involved in a car deer accident earlier in the week while strapped into a car seat with her grandfather. The doctors discounted the chances those could have resulted in the girl’s death.
Ball is charged with felony murder and first degree child abuse.
The jury began deliberations yesterday and resumed this morning.
