Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Judge Donna Mowrer listens to arguments Friday afternoon on a motion from defense attorney Tye Harmon.
PORTALES - District Judge Donna Mowrer on Monday morning denied a defense motion for a directed verdict in the case of the Portales daycare workers who left children in a hot car.
The trial will continue with closing arguments on Tuesday.
Mary Taylor and her daughter Sandi Taylor are charged with reckless abuse of a child (results in death) and abuse of a child (results in great bodily harm) following the July 2017 incident. Maliyah Jones died, while Aubriauna Loya was seriously injured. Both girls were under the age of 2.
Mowrer said court will recess the rest of today and jurors will begin deliberations on Tuesday.
Court officials said they will use today to prepare a slide show outlining jury instructions.
Taylor's Tots daycare has been closed since the women told authorities they accidentally left Maliyah and Aubriauna inside a vehicle after a field trip with 10 other children.
Testimony, which began Wednesday, showed temperatures were in the 90s that afternoon. Prosecutors said the girls were in the vehicle for more than 2 ½ hours.
