GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) – A woman convicted to life in prison for beating her foster child to death was refused a retrial on Wednesday.
An autopsy revealed that in January 2021, Ariel Robinson fatally assaulted her 3-year-old foster daughter, Victoria Rose Smith. Initially, Robinson claimed to first responders that Victoria’s bruises were inflicted by her 7-year-old brother, who allegedly had issues with anger.
During the 2022 trial, autopsy details uncovered that the bruises on Victoria were “severe, deep injuries” with bleeding that extended through the tissues and into the muscles.
Ariel’s husband, Jerry Robinson, provided testimony for the prosecution, indicating that Ariel would get angry at Victoria if she took too long to eat or use the bathroom. As punishment, Victoria would be spanked with a paddle, hand, or belt.
Ariel attempted to appeal for a retrial, arguing that the Smith’s injuries shown in court were “highly inflammatory,” according to the Court of Appeals.
On Wednesday, the Court of Appeals rejected Ariel’s appeal, saying that the photographs shown were relevant evidence.
“The cause of death in this case was somewhat unique in that the vast majority of Victim’s bruises were on the legs and the back of the legs,” according to the Court of Appeals. “Dr. Ward testified that Victim died from blood loss into the tissues of her abdomen and legs caused by the force of the blows. The autopsy photograph of the deep-tissue bleeding helped illustrate to the jury how Victim could have bled to death from a spanking that did not break the skin. We believe that the autopsy photos showing the bleeding deep in the tissues of Victim’s legs were probative as to the cause of death and probative as to whether Robinson spanked the child in a manner ‘manifesting an extreme indifference to human life.'”
