CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. () — Leilani Simon, who was convicted for murdering her young son in 2022, has revised her request for a new trial, submitting the changes on September 12.
The motion for a new trial was originally filed on Nov. 24, 2024, after the guilty verdict was returned on Oct. 25, 2024.
The revised request claims that the court wrongly denied her appeal for an acquittal due to a lack of sufficient evidence, using the criteria outlined in Jackson v. Virginia.
Leilani Simon sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole
It further contends that Simon’s earlier attempts to block her statements to the police from being used were incorrectly rejected and deemed permissible after a Jackson v. Denno hearing.
Moreover, the update argues that introducing evidence about Simon’s association with an alleged drug dealer was improper, violating Rules 402 and 403 of the Georgia Rules of Evidence.
Finally, the amendment states that the court incorrectly instructed the jury about previous difficulties involving Simon and her deceased child.
Simon will have a motion hearing on Jan. 9, 2026, with Judge Tammy Stokes.
