Jurors hear differing views in Garrard Murder Trial

Joyce Hardin Garrard

Jurors in the Joyce Garrard Murder trial received differing pictures of the relationship between Garrard and the granddaughter she is accused of running to death, with a principal testifying Tuesday that she saw no problems and a doctor saying she was worried about odd family dynamics.

The contrasting testimony came as the defense also tried to raise new doubts about the victim's autopsy. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Garrard. Longtime elementary school principal Donna Joy Bone Johnson testified Tuesday that she didn't see any cause for concern in the relationship between Garrard and the girl, who attended her school. Johnson portrayed Garrard as the primary caregiver for the girl, the daughter of Garrard's son Robert Hardin, who was overseas at the time.

The child's pediatrician testified that she worried about the relationship between Garrard, the child, and stepmother Jessica Mae Hardin, who also is charged in the girl's death. Dr. Deborah Smith said the relationship among the three "was not a normal dynamic" and that she had considered contacting authorities but didn't. Smith didn't explain exactly what she considered to be odd, and a prosecutor didn't press her. The defense has tried to show that the child's autopsy was flawed and doesn't match the allegations from Garrard's indictment. Defense lawyers called a former forensics worker to try to bolster those claims. Chris Crow, who helped Dr. Emily Ward with the post-mortem investigation, testified that a report indicated Ward didn't have the girl's medical records before conducting the autopsy. He Testified that The final autopsy report wasn't completed until weeks after Garrard already had been indicted.

Crow said that he, Ward and others attended a meeting during which prosecutors were given detailed medical information about the girl's death before Garrard was charged, even though the final autopsy wasn't complete.

The autopsy blamed the girl's death on seizures caused by a low sodium level linked to prolonged physical exertion and heat exhaustion.

A defense expert, former state medical examiner Dr. James Lauridson, raised questions about the girl's autopsy.

Lauridson agreed with autopsy results that showed the girl's death was linked to seizures and extreme exercise.

But Lauridson disagreed with Ward, who said the girl was dehydrated and suffered heat exhaustion. Lauridson said Savannah's low sodium levels actually were caused by overhydration, said Lauridson, and there were no signs of heat illness.

He said Too much water caused too low salt..

He said he would have ruled the manner of death undetermined, rather than homicide.