MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Friday that the state Grand Jury for Shelby County had indicted a Memphis man for the murder of his seven-month-old daughter last January.
The Grand Jury indicted Terrance Hale, 23, for first degree murder in the perpetration of aggravated child abuse and two counts of aggravated child abuse.
According to the affidavit of complaint filed in this case, on January 29, 2007, the victim, Alyssa Hale was transported to the LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center in critical condition, suffering from seizures and having difficulty breathing. Alyssa Hale died on January 31. The Shelby County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma to the head with associated intracranial trauma.
The Memphis Police Department charged Terrance Hale on February 2. The defendant is being held in the Shelby County Jail on $500,000 bond.
First degree murder is punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole after 51 years, life in prison without parole, or death. First degree murder is a charge covered by the D.A.’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes. Exceptions to the policy are made for legal or ethical reasons.
Aggravated child abuse is a class A felony when the victim is six years old or less. The standard sentence for a class A felony is 15-25 years in prison.
Prosecutors assigned to the Child Protection Investigation Team (CPIT), which is housed in the Child Advocacy Center, will handle this case. |