Man could face new trial in fatal beating of 2-year-old after N.J. Supreme Court won’t hear appeal
Updated 11:19 AM;
The state Supreme Court will not hear an appeal to a lower court ruling tossing out a man’s conviction in the fatal beating of a 2-year-old girl.
Last year, an appellate court panel reversed the conviction of Leslie D. Hill, 30, of Salem, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to aggravated manslaughter and was sentenced to 25 years in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, A’Keena Cooke.
Hill remains jailed and faces a new trial.
A’Keena’s autopsy found damage to her head, spine and internal organs and determined she died from multiple blunt-force injuries.