Vander Simmons sits in a Marlboro County courtroom, on trial for allegedly killing his wife Brandi Simmons in their home in 2009.
MARLBORO COUNTY --
Jurors in the Vander Simmons case have found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, Brandi Simmons in July 2009. Simmons was sentenced to five years in prison.
Simmons was charged with Brandi's murder after her body was exhumed in April 2010. Brandi's family didn't believe what doctors originally told them, that she'd died of an aneurysm. The family said the couple's teenage daughter told police a different story the day after her mother's funeral. According to an incident report, the teenager says she saw her father hit her mother with a stick several times. She said she saw blood coming from her mother's mouth and said her stomach looked swollen.
As trial started Tuesday, the charge Simmons faced was dropped from murder to voluntary manslaughter. Around 4:30 Friday afternoon, after about 2 hours of deliberations, jurors found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Jurors were told by Judge Michael Baxley(www.judicial.state.sc.us/circuitCourt/displaycirjudge.cfm?judgeid) before they started deliberating, that they were allowed to consider the lesser charge.
Two witnesses testified on behalf of the state Friday, pathologist Janice Ross and Marlboro County Coroner Tim Brown.
During closing arguments, defense attorney Ralph Wilson, Sr., urged the jurors to consider the credibility of the state's witnesses. The lead prosecutor, Curtis A. Pauling III, told the jury, "We're seeking justice. No more. No less. Return a verdict that speaks the truth."
We are still in the courtroom and will bring you more details as we get them.
