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A young boy's emotional testimony played a vital role in convicting his mother for the murder of his sister, but now she may be released.
Brave seven-year-old AJ Hutto moved the public when he broke down in court while recounting the traumatic experience of witnessing his mother drowning his sister, Adrianna, in the backyard pool of their family home.
AJ Hutto’s emotional testimony led to his mother being convicted for murdering his sister AdriannaCredit: ITV
Amanda Lewis was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of paroleCredit: Handout
In a surprising development, a court has reopened the case as a judge has been assigned to review a motion for "post-conviction relief," citing alleged violations of rights.
Amanda Lewis was convicted of murder and aggravated child abuse after she was found guilty of drowning her seven-year-old daughter Adrianna in a four-foot pool at their home in Esto, Florida.
Prosecutors in the 2008 trial relied heavily on AJ's testimony, even though his account varied during questioning.
A pivotal moment in AJ’s testimony occurred when prosecutor Larry Basford asked him to describe a drawing he made that depicted stick figures around the pool.
“That’s my momma…killing my sister,” AJ testified.
Basford then inquired what Lewis was doing, to which AJ responded: “Putting her hand over her face.”
Dressed neatly in a white button-up shirt, black knit vest, and light-colored pants, the sight of the young boy being guided through the questioning stirred immense sympathy and controversy among the public.
Lewis was sentenced to life in prison without parole following a trial in Bonifay, but after years of advocacy from her supporters and legal experts, she may now be released.
Supporters of Lewis argue that her daughter drowned accidentally, asserting that the mother was a victim of a miscarriage of justice.
If the motion is granted, Lewis' murder conviction could be overturned.
Lewis has consistently maintained her innocence since the tragic event.
She claims that Adrianna accidentally drowned after slipping and falling into the pool while attempting to remove bugs from the water.
The mother stated that she returned home from a night shift and had been napping while the children watched cartoons.
She told the police that the children had later “pestered her” for a swim, but she declined because she wanted to go out to buy school supplies.
Lewis asserts that shortly after, AJ informed her that Adrianna was in the pool.
In a 2010 interview with ABC News, she recounted looking out the back door and seeing AJ “raking in the water with his hand, as if he were trying to grab her.”
“When I reached the pool... she was face down… very purple, very blue,” Lewis described.
She said she began CPR and called 911.
Adrianna was seven years old at the time of her tragic deathCredit: ITV
The heartbreaking drawing AJ created illustrating the tragic death of his sisterCredit: Refer to source
Prosecutor Larry Basford questioning AJ during the trialCredit: Refer to source
Adrianna was airlifted to the nearest hospital, where an emergency team attempted to revive her; however, she sadly passed away later that day.
An adjunct professor of sociology at Georgetown University, who advocates for the mother—also named Amanda Lewis—posted on social media, stating: “Her case did not start with a
