Sunday, July 31, 2011

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http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/mom-gets-probation-and-1042791.html


Mom gets probation and new trial in hit-run case

By Marcus K. Garner 
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

3:18 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Raquel Nelson has a second chance to defend herself against accusations that she was responsible for the death of her 4-year-old son.

The Cobb County mother who was convicted earlier on three charges after A.J. Nelson was killed by a hit-and-run driver was sentenced Tuesday to 40 hours of community service and 12 months' probation -- and then offered a new trial.

The judge's unusual decision was announced at a sentencing hearing Tuesday in Cobb County State Court.

Nelson's attorney, David Savoy, initially told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his client "wants to proceed" with a new trial, but later said she had yet do decide between retrying the case or taking the sentence she was given.

“I laid out all of her options for her, but it’s up to her to decide,” Savoy said, adding that Raquel Nelson has 30 days to decide.

Judge Katherine Tanksley sentenced Nelson to 12 months probation for the first two counts and 12 months probation for the third count, to be served concurrently.

Tanksley also suspended $1,000 fines that could be levied for each misdemeanor count.

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