A Tennessee woman has been sentenced in 2021 for the murder of a college professor who had been given temporary custody of her children.
After three hours of deliberation, a jury found Annette Harvey, 54, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of East Tennessee State University professor Robin Leonard, the Johnson City Press reported. .
Harvey stabbed Leonard, 50, multiple times at his home on January 18, 2021. Leonard was taken to the hospital, where he died 11 days later.
Harvey fled the scene but was arrested the next day. Before the killing, Leonard was given temporary custody of Harvey’s children and Harvey was sent for a mental health evaluation.
At some point, Leonard moved Harvey’s two children to another home. Because Harvey had taken her children away before.
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This week, Annette Harvey, 54, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of East Tennessee State University professor Robin Leonard. (Washington County Sheriff’s Office)
She tried to take the children to the home of a former pastor, but the pastor refused to take them. After calling the police, the children were returned to Leonard.
On Monday, her attorney Don Sparrell argued in closing arguments that his client never intended to kill Leonard and hinted at her mental health issues, WHLJ-TV reported.
“Annette Harvey was not of sound mind to commit a crime,” Mr Sparrell told jurors.
After the verdict, Leonard’s family expressed their gratitude to prosecutors and remembered her legacy.
“On behalf of our sister, I want to thank the prosecutor’s office for working really hard to make sure she got justice,” Leonard’s sister, Lara Leonard, said after the verdict, WJHL reported. Ta. “It’s never going to bring her back. She’s never going to be okay. But we recognize the hard work of everyone involved and we know she appreciates it too.” I know that.”
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“When we were little, she always took care of us. We just felt like we had to stand up for her no matter what. It wasn’t difficult.” she said. “It was a passionate love for our sister.”
Harvey is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1 and was also fined $125,000.
