Juror in Kelsey Smith-Briggs abuse case denies misconduct accusations

Oldham said her accuser blames her somewhat for getting fired in 2007 from the home health care company where they both worked.

"He believes I had a part in it," she said.

The testimony came during a fact-finding hearing for Raye Dawn Smith, the mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs.

Smith, 30, of Meeker, is appealing her conviction for enabling child abuse. Kelsey, 2, died from abuse in 2005. The mother is serving 27 years in prison.

Kay County District Judge D.W. Boyd heard testimony from a dozen witnesses Wednesday on the jury misconduct issue. He will make a report next month to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.

The appeals court then will decide whether to uphold the conviction or give Smith a new trial.

About 20 of Smith's supporters showed up for the four-hour hearing.

The misconduct accusations are being made by Smith's attorneys. Prosecutors said the accusations are not true.

Lincoln County District Attorney Richard Smothermon told reporters after the hearing, "I thought the evidence clearly showed that no jury misconduct occurred. I thought it clearly showed it could not have occurred."

The juror's former supervisor, Todd Bowman, 35, of Sapulpa, testified Oldham called him at least twice a day during the trial. He testified she admitted she and other jurors watched news about the trial. He said she remarked reporters didn't really know what was going on at the trial.

He said she also admitted that she had looked at a website about the case. He testified she said information on the website was shocking.