GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County father is on trial for a third time in more than a month in connection with his daughter’s death after two previous mistrials.
Cledir Barros is charged with second-degree child cruelty after his 8-year-old daughter Sayra died in January at their Gwinnett County home near Bethlehem.
Barros’s wife, Natiela, is awaiting her own murder trial for allegedly beating Sayra to death with a wooden rolling pin while angry with her.
Prosecutors say the father knew Natiela was abusive toward Sayra but withdrew the child from school and left her at home with her stepmother to be homeschooled.
In the two previous trials, jurors were unable to reach a verdict.
Two different judges declared mistrials in response to the juries being deadlocked.
On Monday, teachers testified that Sayra came to school with bruises on her face and in her mouth in the months before her death.
In November 2023, Sayra’s father withdrew her from school after being notified that the child was caught stealing items in class despite being a good student and not having previous behavioral issues.