Opinion ID: 1201744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Appellant Terry Smith was convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (ABHAN) and homicide by child abuse under S.C.Code Ann. § 16-3-85 (Supp. 1995). He was sentenced to ten years and life, respectively. The ABHAN charge stemmed from several beatings of 2½ year-old Gabriel Bennett which occurred between December 1993 and January 12, 1994. The homicide charge stemmed from the death of Gabriel's sister, 1 year-old Dwitasia Bennett, on January 12, 1994. Appellant is appealing only his homicide conviction. Yolanda Bennett, the children's mother, testified appellant put Dwitasia to bed at 3:00 in the afternoon on Wednesday. Yolanda found Dwitasia dead at 1:00 in the afternoon on Thursday. Yolanda testified she did not check on Dwitasia earlier because she feared appellant had done something to her. Further, Yolanda testified she knew Dwitasia was dead when she first picked her up. After discovering Dwitasia, Yolanda washed a blood stain from the bed linens, and then called a taxi to take her to her mother's house. She waited fifteen minutes for the taxi. After arriving at her mother's house, Yolanda laid Dwitasia on a bed and paid the cab fare. Yolanda's mother's boyfriend told her to call 911 because Dwitasia was not breathing and blood was coming from her mouth. Yolanda called 911 from a neighbor's house. The police arrived with the EMS. An officer checked Gabriel and discovered numerous bruises on his torso. Gabriel was taken into protective custody and Yolanda was arrested. Yolanda pled guilty to two counts of criminal neglect and abuse. A third charge, homicide by child abuse, was dropped in exchange for her testimony against appellant.