GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Jury deliberations have begun in the retrial of a father who is facing charges in his daughter's death on Tuesday.
37-year-old Cledir Barros is facing a jury for the second time after a judge declared a mistrial when the other jury could not reach a verdict two weeks ago. Cledir Barros was facing murder charges in the death of his 8-year-old girl, Sayra Barros, but now only faces second-degree child cruelty.
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His wife, Natiela Barros, 34, is accused of beating Sayra to death with a rolling pin for playing with breakfast instead of doing schoolwork.
Cledir's attorney argued that he worked as a truck driver and was not home for most of the week during the incident. In closing arguments, his attorney says he had never witnessed his wife be abusive out of anger.
The 8-year-old was under the stepmother's care and homeschooled at the time of the incident. Cledir testified during the previous trial, where he stated that Sayra was pulled out of school for behavioral issues.
Cledir testified that on the day of the incident, he was on the road driving his truck when he got a phone call from the stepmother that his daughter was "gone" and that she was going to harm herself.
Prosecutors argued that Cledir knew the stepmother had beaten her and that there was evidence that the stepmother had been physically abusive before, despite his claims.
In the previous trial, Cledir was questioned several times about his response to the incident and why he did not call 911 as soon as he learned about his daughter's death.
Natiela is not standing trial with Cledir. It's unclear when her trial will start.