Mississippi teen seeks new trial due to mental health treatment

In a recent case in Mississippi, Carly Gregg, a 15-year-old girl, was convicted of murder and aggravated assault for the shooting death of her mother, Ashley Smylie, and the wounding of her stepfather, Heath Smylie, on March 19. The jury found Gregg guilty in September, and her defense team is now advocating for a new trial based on claims of her mental health issues, specifically auditory hallucinations. Gregg's defense argued that she had previously undergone horse therapy as treatment for these symptoms, which they assert indicate a diagnosis of unspecified schizophrenic disorder. Despite the emotional backdrop and concerns about her mental state, Judge Dewey Arthur rejected the defense’s appeal for a new trial, stating that the newly presented evidence would not likely lead to a different verdict. The defense pointed to several mitigating factors, including a lack of prior violence, a good school record, and the absence of a motive for the crime. They highlighted the relationships between Gregg and her family as further evidence that she was not in her right mind during the incident. The prosecution, however, maintained that Gregg showed no remorse and painted a stark picture during the trial. As it stands, Carly Gregg is serving a life sentence in prison, along with an additional 10 years for tampering with evidence, after a jury deemed her actions unequivocally guilty. The developments surrounding her mental health and the potential implications on her case continue to generate scrutiny and debate.