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Guilty

The jury verdict is in on Raye Dawn Smith.
"This trial is about her accountability," District Attorney Richard Smothermon said during a 45-minute closing argument in the felony child-abuse case against Smith. "This defendant abused her child. She either did it or let it happen."

As he spoke, Smith wept at the defense table next to her attorney, Steve Huddleston.

"Tears do not absolve you of your accountability," Smothermon said. "Kelsey Smith died -- died."


Clearly, the juey must not have felt that the tears absolved her either, as they convicted her of enabling child abuse in the case against Smith. A guilty verdict, with a recommended 27 years in prison will not bring the precious little Kelsey Briggs back, and it will not reduce the pain that has been suffered by all who loved the two year old Oklahoma toddler- but it will give a little bit of justice.

Smith, who could have received life in prison on the charge, lowered her head and cried, "I don't understand. Help me," when the 12-member jury announced its unanimous verdict.


One has to wonder if she sees the irony in her words, because it's impossible to imagine that Kelsey understood, and with the words "daddy Mike hurt me", she too asked for help. Only- Kelsey was the one who really deserved it, and who never got it from her mother.

Read full story from KOCO

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