A South Los Angeles woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder and other counts stemming from her 4-year-old daughter’s death last month.
Akira Smith, who will turn 35 on Friday, is charged with one count each of murder, torture and assault on a child causing death involving her daughter, Eternity.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith was convicted in 2016 of assault with a deadly weapon and in 2014 of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance or boyfriend.
Smith is accused of fatally beating her daughter at their home on Aug. 11. The girl was pronounced dead that night after being taken by ambulance to a hospital, where staffers alerted the Los Angeles Police Department.
Smith was arrested at 2:30 a.m. the following day by the LAPD’s Juvenile Division, and she has remained behind bars since then, jail records show.
Officers took the girl’s three siblings into protective custody and released them to the Department of Children and Family Services, according to the LAPD.
Smith could face up to 62 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. She is due back in court on Oct. 8, when a preliminary hearing date will be set.
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