THE murder trial for a 23-year-old Ohioan who allegedly killed her mom by stabbing her more than 30 times has started despite her dad's pleas to the judge.
Sydney Powell, whose trial began on September 7 and has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, has gone into this trial with her family by her side - especially her dad.
3
3
Her supportive dad, Steve Powell, and their family have stated they believe Sydney was in a state of psychosis when an argument allegedly led to the assault and stabbing of her late mom, Brenda Powell, to death.
Sydney was been charged with murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence after stabbing her mom on March 3, 2020, inside their Akron, Ohio, home, according to Akron police. Her mom later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital.
Her defense attorney claims she was suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia during the time of the stabbing, and dealing with a psychotic break.
According to the Akron Beach Journal, Sydney appeared to be crying in a Summit County courtroom this week as her dad begged prosecutors to not pursue the murder charges against his daughter.
Read More On Murder Trials
Speaking during pretrial, Steve said: "I don’t know why we’re doing this.
"This isn’t what anyone wants here. I don’t know how she can handle it.
"I don’t know how I can handle it. I’m trying to keep my family together."
Sydney's maternal grandmother, Betsy Brown, also pleaded the same, saying: "All of this is opening things we hoped to put behind us."
Most read in The US Sun
Since Sydney was released on a $25,000 bond in April 2020, she has been living with her grandmother Betsy and her grandfather.
Despite her family's pleas, jury selection began on Wednesday and opening statements and testimony started on Thursday.
An emailed statement by Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh reportedly read: "We have the utmost sympathy for Brenda Powell’s surviving family members.
"It’s unimaginable and tragic to lose a loved one to violence under any circumstances, much less when the violence is caused by another family member.
"In the interests of justice and the community, we believe the case is best resolved by presenting a fair and impartial jury with all the facts and letting them decide the outcome."
Following the prosecutors' refusal to reduce or change Sydney's charges, or agree to her being found as not guilty by reason of insanity
Jeff Laybourne, the lawyer representing Sydney’s family, said her family was unhappy with the court's decision.
Following the decision to move forward, Steve said: "This goes against anything Brenda would want."
Referring to Sydney, Steve continued: "As parents, our job is to protect her.
"The goal is to get her better — not to go backward to prove a point."
In Summit County prosecutors' opening statements on Thursday, they said Sydney killed her mom by stabbing her with a steak knife and hitting her with a cast-iron frying pan. They also said she broke a window to make it appear as if someone had broken in.
Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Joe McAleese said, according to the Akron Beacon Journal: "Sydney Powell did take her mother’s life and she knew in doing so her actions were wrong."
Sydney's attorney, Don Malarcik, however, told the court how three psychologists concluded Sydney to have suffered a psychotic break and schizophrenia on the day her mother was attacked.
"The science is overwhelming and it supports insanity," Malarcik said, with the hope that jurors will find Sydney not guilty by reason of insanity.
According to CourtTV, Sydney is a former high school honor roll student who struggled with her academics upon entering college.
She was ultimately dismissed from the University of Mount Union for failure - something she hid from her mom.
Months after flunking out of school, Sydney returned home when her mom confronted her about school, presumably prompting an argument, with a lot of "screaming and yelling," a dispatcher said, according to CourtTV.
Brenda had reportedly been on the phone with school administrators during the attack.
As for what Sydney remembers about her return home, her attorney, Don Malarcik, said she had hallucinations at her parent's home and went to their basement to get rid of the voices in her head.
He added: "The next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital."
The stabbing comes as a shock to those close to Brenda and Sydney as they were considered very close, like best friends.
Since the tragic death of her mom, Sydney has been seeing a doctor, counselor, and taking medication.
Malarcik said: "She would be a zombie if she took these drugs without a mental health issue.
"This isn’t pretend. We’re going to ask you to trust the science. Every professional who has seen Sydney Powell has had the same diagnosis – schizophrenia. Mental illness is a real thing."
He continued: "This family has suffered a nightmare of unimaginable consequences. I ask you to end the nightmare and return verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity."
Read More on The US Sun
Sydney is facing two counts of murder among other charges.
Her trial is set to last through September 18.
3
