Williams v. State

Quillian, Presiding Judge.

Defendant appeals his conviction of two counts of cruelty to children, ages 4 and 7. The first witness for the state, Judy Thornton, age 8, was questioned extensively by the trial court and counsel, but was not permitted to testify as the court ruled she did not understand the nature of an oath.

The state then called her mother, Nancy Bishop, who was permitted to testify — over objection, as to what Judy had told her on Monday about the events that occurred on the previous Saturday, when the alleged assaults took place. Held:

1. The court admitted the child’s testimony…