Motions filed to limit evidence in Garrard Trial

Joyce Hardin Garrard

Etowah County prosecutors, in a motion filed last week and made public by the defense in a court document late Sunday, argue that attorneys for Joyce Hardin Garrard should be barred from delving into the reasons the doctor left state employment.

The state also asked the judge to block Garrard’s lawyers from presenting any unsupported speculation about what killed 9-year-old Savannah Hardin in February 2012. Prosecutors also argue that jurors shouldn’t get to hear anyone but Garrard describe her mental state or intent.

The defense asked Etowah County Circuit Judge Billy Ogletree to allow all relevant evidence in the trial, which will begin this week with jury selection.

Questions about the autopsy and Garrard’s intent could be vital because the defense blames the child’s death on health issues aside from running and denies that the woman wanted to harm the child.

The exact timing of the trial isn’t clear because Ogletree issued a gag order that prevents attorneys from publicly discussing even routine scheduling matters. The judge put the Etowah County Sheriff’s Department in charge of communicating plans to news outlets, but it has said only it will give a two-day notice before the trial begins.