By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – Almost a year after a jury found her guilty of killing eight-year old Rica Rountree, Cynthia Baker tried to convince a judge on Friday to grant her a new trial because of an inadequate defense.
The 43-year old woman from Normal has yet to be sentenced following her conviction in November of last year.
Baker said her lawyer at the time, Todd Ringel, failed to prepare her to testify, warning her she would lose the case if she did take the stand. Baker wound up not testifying in her own defense.
Baker also claimed Ringel held only about about a half-dozen brief meetings with her before trial, failed to show her various documents. and did not call enough “valuable” witnesses to testify on her behalf.
According to Baker, Ringle promised her former boyfriend and the child’s father, Richard Rountree, that he would not “throw him under the bus” for the killing.
Prosecutors said it was Baker who kicked the girl so hard in the stomach that she ultimately died of the injuries.
Richard Rountree, 32, is serving an eight-year prison sentence for his guilty plea to child endangerment.
Ringel testified Friday that everything he did was in Baker’s best interest to help her win the case.
Baker will be back in court November 19 to find out if Judge Casey Costigan grants her a new trial or goes ahead with the sentencing.
Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at News@WJBC.com.
