In a high-profile, controversial death penalty case in Alabama, Mr. Mesereau obtained acquittals on capital murder and murder charges, resulting in his client’s conviction on the lesser included charge of manslaughter. The defendant was a young mother charged with beating her infant daughter to death. The defense continually received negative publicity throughout the state and civil suits were filed against state agencies for allowing such abuse to continue.
Significance: This result was considered to be a stunning defeat for prosecutors. Public opinion ran very high against the defense in this tragic case.
