Danyel Smith Rejects Plea Deal in Shaken Baby Case as Georgia Supreme Court Considers New Trial Arguments

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In 2023, Danyel Smith, who has been serving a life sentence for the 2002 death of his 2-month-old son Chandler, declined a plea deal that would have allowed his release, insisting he would not admit to a crime he did not commit. Smith's attorneys are seeking a new trial, arguing that advancements in medical understanding of shaken-baby syndrome suggest Chandler's death may have resulted from natural causes rather than abuse. The Georgia Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether to grant Smith a new trial based on new expert analysis of the evidence, amidst ongoing debate about the reliability of past forensic testimony.