SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) - The first day of the high profile murder trial of a Chatham County mother accused of killing her toddler is now complete.
Leilani Simon is accused of killing her toddler son, Quinton, between the evening of Oct. 4 and the early morning hours of Oct. 5 of 2022 and dumping his body in a dumpster.
The prosecution team is led by Eastern Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Tim Dean who delivered an hour-plus-long opening statement to the jury.
Dean focused on Simon’s “biggest priority in life" at the time, which he said was being desired by her then-boyfriend Daniel Youngkin, who is not Quinton’s biological father, supposed drug-use the night of Quinton’s alleged disappearance, and what he describes as inconsistent storytelling to police and detectives.
"She would go on to tell a series of evolving lies over several weeks, only moving from one lie to the next," Dean said to the jury.
Dean also showed the jury what he called "a digital suicide note," a selfie video taken by Simon, with messages to her three children.
In the video, Simon said: “If I can’t love myself, how can I love you?” talking to her children, Zayne, Quinton and Skye.
Defense attorney Robert Persse delivered a three-minute opening statement with this message: the case is based on rumor and gossip.
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"This case can't be decided based on emotions," Persse said. "It must be decided based on facts and evidence presented in this court room. It can't be determined by their rumors, their gossip, and their conclusions. In the end that is what you will determine is that that is the foundation of the state's claims."
Then the jury heard from five witnesses who were all police officers or detectives who worked for the Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) at the time.
One, Sgt. Bobby Stewart, said on the stand he interviewed Simon Oct. 5, 2022, the day she reported Quinton missing, and her behavior was not conducive to that of mothers in the many other missing children's cases that he responded to in his 34 years of law enforcement.
"The mother is upset, she is hysterical, she is crying, she is telling us, what are you standing here for? Why are you talking to me? You should be looking for my child," said Stewart.
Dean asked him, "Was the defendant like that in this case?"
Stewart said, "No sir."
Witness testimony continues Tuesday, and the trial is expected to last two to three weeks.