The trial of an Etowah County woman accused of running her granddaughter to death is now set for Sept. 22.

Circuit Judge William Ogletree set the new date for the trial of Joyce Garrard at a hearing this morning after denying several motions filed by the state and the defense. He told both sides he was setting the new date “out of an abundance of caution” to give the defense additional time.

Ogletree last year had set a trial date of June 23 for Garrard, who is accused of capital murder in making Savannah Hardin, her 9-year-old granddaughter, run around their Etowah County home for about three hours for lying about eating a candy bar. The girl collapsed and died three days later.

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