BELFAST, Maine — Sharon Carrillo, the mother found guilty of murder in the beating death of her 10-year-old daughter Marissa Kennedy, was back inside of a courtroom Thursday.
Carrillo is challenging her murder conviction of the death of her daughter.
Sharon, who's previously been referred to as Sharon Kennedy, identified herself in court Thursday as Sharon Carrillo, and is referred to as Carrillo in the current court proceedings.
Carrillo briefly testified as part of an evidentiary hearing in her post-conviction proceedings. Carrillo is being represented by attorney Paul Corey.
Testimony on Thursday centered around 11 new photos not used in previous court proceedings that allegedly show physical abuse suffered by Carrillo, at the hands of her then-husband Julio Carrillo.
Julio Carrillo pleaded guilty to the murder of Marissa Kennedy in 2019 and is serving a 55-year sentence.
Marissa was found dead in her family's Stockton Springs condo in 2018. According to the state medical examiner, her heart had given out after months of abuse.
Carrillo was found guilty in 2019, and sentenced to 48 years in prison in 2019.
In 2021, the Maine Supreme Court upheld the conviction and 48-year prison sentence.
Now in 2024, Carrillo is seeking to have her conviction overturned through post-conviction proceedings.
As part of the evidentiary hearing on Thursday, Carrillo's former attorneys Chis McLean and his co-counsel Laura Shaw also testified.
According to testimony from both McLean and Shaw, the photos presented Thursday were not used in previous proceedings due to other evidence and testimony during the trial that highlighted domestic abuse that Sharon faced by Julio.
McLean also stated he wanted to avoid putting Sharon herself on the witness stand due to previous conflicting statements made.
On Thursday McLean and Shaw were also questioned regarding efforts to declare a mistrial in the original murder trial.
McLean stated on Thursday he called for a mistrial to be declared after testimony was given regarding comments made by Dr. Sarah Miller regarding allegations made by a fellow inmate, that claimed Sharon Carrillo confessed to her involvement in Kennedy's death. McLean says the defense was not prepared for that to be discussed, and after the question was asked, a sidebar was called in effort to grant a mistrial, however it was deemed as hearsay, and to be stricken from the record.
The next steps in Sharon Carrillo's post-conviction effort will be handled out of court, as attorneys have been asked to file briefs regarding Thursday's evidentiary hearing by April 12. Replies to those briefs are to be filed by April 22.