Decision Delayed on Retrial in Child’s Death
Prosecutors told a judge Tuesday that they need more time to investigate the 1995 beating death of 2-year-old Lance Helms and decide whether to retry a woman who had served time in the case.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Hoff delayed a hearing until February on whether Eve Wingfield will be tried again in the 1995 death of Lance Helms, who died in the North Hollywood apartment she shared with David Helms, the boy’s father.
In September, Hoff allowed Wingfield, 24, to withdraw her no-contest plea to child endangerment, on which she had been convicted and had served 21 months of a 10-year prison term.
Hoff made the ruling after key prosecution testimony changed. A police review of the case exonerated Wingfield and identified David Helms, the father, as the only suspect.
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