Daily Briefs . . .

WLAM - Wayne Region to host annual Winter Wine-Down Feb. 26
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan-Wayne Region cordially invites you to join us for our Annual Winter Wine-Down on Thursday, February 26, 2015 from 5:30-8:00p.m. at the Courthouse Grille located near downtown Plymouth. WLAM-Wayne will be honoring Judge Martha M. Snow and Judge Karen Y. Braxton of Third Judicial Circuit Court. Ticket prices will include wine and appetizers. To RSVP or for more information on this event, please contact Santana Schneider via email at santana.schneider@3rdcc.org.

Man freed following plea deal in 1995 fire-related deaths

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) — A Battle Creek man who was granted a new trial after his conviction in the 1995 fire-related deaths of two young brothers in southern Michigan has been freed following a plea deal in the case.
Andrew Babick, 48, who had been serving a life sentence for felony murder, left the Calhoun County courthouse Wednesday, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported.
Babick was granted a new trial in November after the Michigan Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School argued he was convicted because of faulty science pointing to arson.
Rather than going to trial, Babick pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in an agreement with the state attorney general’s office. Babick already served 18 years in prison, more than the 15-year maximum penalty for the new charge, so Judge Sarah Lincoln ordered his release.
Babick was accused of starting a house fire in September 1995 because he was mad at a man who sold him crack cocaine. Babick denied that. Two adults escaped, but 3-year-old Le’Daryus Fields and 2-year-old Le’Tonio Briggs died. He was convicted and then sentenced Dec. 20, 1996.
In his guilty plea, Babick said he fell asleep on a couch on the porch of the house while smoking a cigarette.

Officials renew efforts to find girl who disappeared in 1998

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — Officials are making another attempt to find a Flint girl who disappeared in 1998.
The Flint Journal reports Crime Stoppers of Michigan is offering a $2,500 reward for new information that will lead investigators to 14-year-old Coral Hall, who is presumed dead. Her body hasn't been found, but her grandmother is charged in her death.
Crime Stoppers earlier offered a $1,000 reward.
A Genesee County judge last month ordered that 75-year-old Lois Janish of Flint stand trial on an open count of murder. That means a jury can decide between first- and second-degree murder.
Police say Janish confessed to killing and dismembering the girl but then recanted.
Flint Police Sgt. Greg Hosmer investigates cold cases and says he believes people have information about what happened but haven't come forward.

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