Cook v. State

THREADGILL, Judge.

Elsie Cook appeals her conviction of first degree felony murder arising from the death of her young daughter. We find merit in her contentions that the court erred in allowing certain hearsay testimony and in failing to inquire into the state’s peremptory challenge and excusal of a black venireman. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

On the morning of June 30, 1986, the badly battered body of eighteen-month-old Shannon Cook was found near the old emergency room of the DeSoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia, Florida. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the child’s…