Retrial in the Cledir Barros case: Jury deliberates on the fate of the father of an eight-year-old boy beaten to death

GWINNETT COUNTY, Georgia. – A jury in Gwinnett County is currently deliberating the fate of Cledir Barros, a father charged in connection with the death of his 8-year-old daughter, Sayra Barros. This case has attracted a lot of attention because it is the retrial of Barros after the first trial two weeks ago ended in a miscarriage of justice because the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.

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Barros' wife, Natalia, who was also Sighra's stepmother, is accused of beating the young girl with a rolling pin in January. Prosecutors claim Barros knew about his wife's previous abuse but continued to allow her to homeschool Sighra after he took her out of school. The defense, however, claims Barros, who worked as a truck driver and was often out of the house, knew nothing about the abuse.

In her closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Megan Matteucci emphasized the neglect, stating, “We know her mother was oceans away in Africa. We know her stepmother didn't want her home, and her father didn't protect her either.”

On the other hand, Barros' defense attorney Tracy Drake argued that Barros “could have known, but had reasonable fears. He didn't know. He regrets he wasn't there.”

The jury has been deliberating for about an hour. The community is eagerly awaiting their decision, which could be made this afternoon.

Updates will be provided as the case develops.