GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A woman is on trial in Gwinnett Superior Court on charges that she killed the eight-year-old daughter of her partner and wrapped the child in trash bags before dumping her body.
Prosecutors accuse Celeste Owens of repeatedly striking the child, Amari Hall, in the head in a Gwinnett motel where she lived with the mother, Brittany Hall, and the victim’s sister and brother.
Prosecutors allege Owens and Brittany Hall routinely abused the children and presented video evidence to the jury on the opening day of the trial.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
“The story of the life and murder and subsequent investigation into the death of Amari, and the abuse of her little sister and little brother will unfold in the days ahead,” Gwinnett Assistant District Attorney Sabrina Nizam said.
Authorities said after killing the little girl in November 2021, Owens and Brittany Hall wrapped the child in trash bags and dumped her body in a wooded area in DeKalb County.
A defense lawyer told the jury while the case is tragic, there’s no conclusive evidence Owens murdered the girl.
“There is not going to be any specific evidence presented to you all, that my client delivered any fatal blow to Amari,” defense attorney Rob Greenwald said.
As its first witness, the prosecutor called a Gwinnett Police officer to the witness stand.
He responded to a call from the victim’s mother that she was missing from the motel.
The prosecutor asked the officer to describe the demeanor of the mother and her partner when he arrived to look into the child’s disappearance.
“Fairly calm. Nothing erratic,” Gwinnett Police Sgt. Michael Forrester said.
Testimony will continue on Wednesday.
Brittany Hall also faces murder charges in an upcoming separate trial.
TRENDING STORIES:
- DeKalb teacher off the job, accused of crashing into parked cars while driving drunk
- Jamie Foxx opens up about Atlanta medical emergency: ‘I was fighting for my life’
- Suspect arrested in murder of couple killed inside GA church 39 years ago
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]