On December 11, 2013, the South Carolina Supreme Court decided State v. Hepburn, holding that the prosecution presented insufficient evidence to convict a mother of homicide by child abuse.  The Court directed a verdict of acquittal.  Hepburn presented important issues regarding the standard for directed verdict when the State jointly tries co-defendants.  Charles Grose represented the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (SCACDL) as amicus curie, or friend of the court, to address the directed verdict standard.  Click here to read the Supreme Court’s Opinion in State v. Hepburn.