Jury Deadlocked in Case of Father Whose Wife Allegedly Killed 8-Year-Old Daughter with Rolling Pin
August 13, 2024
GEORGIA: A jury in Georgia is struggling to reach a verdict in the case of a father whose wife allegedly killed his 8-year-old daughter with a wooden rolling pin. Cledir Barros is on trial for child cruelty, with prosecutors arguing that he knew about the abuse but failed to protect his daughter.
Natalia Barros, the girl's stepmother, is charged with felony murder and child cruelty but has not yet gone to trial. She is accused of fatally beating Sayra Barros with a wooden rolling pin at their Bethlehem home in January. Cledir Barros was also charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was dropped during his trial.
The jury has been deliberating for several hours, with the defense requesting a mistrial due to the lack of a verdict. However, the trial judge has issued an Allen charge, a set of instructions aimed at preventing a hung jury, and dismissed the defense bid for a mistrial.
Cledir Barros took the stand last week, claiming he was unaware of any prior instances of his wife harming his daughter. He testified that he was a truck driver who was often away from home and had no knowledge of the ongoing abuse. The defense has argued that Cledir Barros was a loving father who was deceived by his wife's actions.
However, prosecutors have presented evidence that suggests Cledir Barros was aware of the abuse and failed to act. They argue that he withdrew his daughter from school and left her in the care of his wife, despite knowing about the abuse.
