Leilani Simon will appear in court in October for the murder of a toddler

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Leilani Simon, the former Burke County resident accused of killing her toddler Quinton and dumping his body in a dumpster, appeared in court Friday.

The lawyers are arguing about what evidence should be admitted in the trial.

The prosecution presented seven pieces of evidence that it would like to use.

They say it contains text messages, statements and phone records that show what was going on in Simon's life at the time of Quinton's death.

Prosecutors said the evidence detailed relationship problems between Simon and her then-boyfriend, as well as allegations of physical violence.

They say it shows what was going on in the mother's life at the time of her son Quinton's death.

“We said she killed her son in the middle of the night. OK? That's quite a statement for a mother,” said prosecutor Timothy Dean.

Prosecutor Timothy Dean presented testimony from Simon's longtime friend, “who will testify about the defendant's feelings toward Quinton's father and, more broadly, toward Quinton.”

He also asked the judge to consider videos, text messages and interviews that he said showed Simon and her then-boyfriend were having relationship problems.

Prosecutors want to hear testimony from Quinton's babysitter, who says the babysitter “has some information that supports a case of actual physical violence.”

Simon's lawyers objected, arguing that this personal information should not be admissible because it was irrelevant to the charges against Simon.

“The state is just offering it to make her look unstable and bad in front of the jury. That's all it's about. It has nothing to do with the state's allegations. It's just not evidence of the true facts of this case,” said Robert Persse, Leilani Simon's attorney.

Prosecutors pleaded with the judge, saying this was crucial to their case.

“We alleged that she killed her son in the middle of the night. OK? That's quite a statement for a mother. To support our case, we have to be allowed to present evidence of these intrinsic factors, things that were going on in her life at that time, even if some of them were to some extent unpleasant or unfavorable to her,” said prosecutor Timothy Dean.

Judge Tammy Stokes did not issue a ruling on Friday, although she had decided just a few days ago to reject the defense's request to drop some of the charges against Simon.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for next month ahead of a tentative trial date of October 9.

At the time of Quinton’s death Leilani Simon was on probation in Burke County for stealing $50 in coins. She said her child's father convinced her to break into a neighbor's RV and steal the money from a piggy bank. He reportedly needed her to do it because he couldn't fit through the window.

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