A South Florida case that horrified the state has ended with a stunning legal twist after Miami mother Precious Bland was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of her 15-month-old daughter. Additionally, she was cleared in the stabbing attacks on her husband and teenage daughter.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, Bland waived her right to a jury trial and had a bench trial before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Miguel de la O, who ruled that she did not understand the nature or consequences of her actions at the time of the 2021 killing. Her attorney, Larry Handfield, argued that Bland was suffering from a COVID-19-triggered psychotic episode and experiencing command hallucinations telling her to baptize her family.
Bland will now face an assessment hearing, where the judge is expected to determine whether she needs additional mental health treatment or commitment. For now, NBC 6 reports she is allowed to remain at home pending that decision…