**Mother Convicted of Attempted Murder Granted Retrial: Flaws in Original Case Revealed**
In a turn of events, Shayla Jerea Bryan, convicted of attempted murder in 2014, has been granted a retrial after almost a decade behind bars. Bryan was found guilty of stabbing, beating, and throwing her 3-year-old daughter from a third-story balcony, claiming “the devil came across” her. Initially sentenced to 30 years in prison, new evidence suggests that she may have been unfairly convicted.
Bryan was given the maximum sentence allowed under South Carolina law and would not have been eligible for parole until she served 25.5 years. However, the post-conviction relief process in South Carolina may have saved her from spending the majority of her life behind bars. The process isn’t used to challenge the conviction directly, instead examining the general process surrounding it, such as the representation, the prosecutor’s actions, and other aspects of the criminal proceedings.
Initially, Bryan’s claim of insanity did not hold up during her trial. However, the prisoner’s psychiatrist recently testified that Bryan may have had a psychotic break; therefore, her attack on her daughter could be explained as such, not as a result of substance abuse. Bryan has allegedly had no access to illegal drugs while incarcerated. Now, Bryan could either be found “not guilty by reason of insanity,” which would put her under the custody of the Department of Mental Health or be found “guilty but mentally ill,” which would include prison time along with a “psychiatric component” built in.
Furthermore, court documents reveal that Bryan was not adequately informed of her right to a jury trial. The defense was also found to be inadequate as Bryan’s lawyer turned out to be a real estate attorney, not a criminal attorney. All these factors led to the overturning of Bryan’s guilty verdict.
**Retrial Opens New Possibilities: Original Case Marred by Inadequate Representation and Flawed Proceedings**
This retrial opens new possibilities for Bryan, who was previously facing a life-altering sentence. The flaws in her original case have come to light, highlighting the importance of fair representation and thorough examination during criminal proceedings.
