JONESBORO, Ill. (AP) — A Union County woman has been acquitted of charges that she killed her boyfriend’s 4-year-old son nearly three years ago.

Judge William Thurston ruled Thursday that prosecutors didn’t show enough evidence to prove their case against Sacha Brown. She was acquitted of charges of murder, aggravated battery and concealing a homicide following a trial that began in late October. Attorneys called the directed verdict extremely rare.

Police say Brown was responsible for the skull fracture that led to Justin Hepburn’s death in December 2011 in Ware.
The boy’s father testified that Brown had a history of violently punishing his child and would frequently spank Justin until he bruised.

Brown’s attorney had said the charges were a result of a rush to judgment.

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