BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A West Melbourne couple will be tried separately this summer for the murder of the mother’s 3-year-old.
Police said Erica Dotson’s boyfriend Josh Manns beat Jameson Nance to death in 2021, but Dotson was aware of the abuse and didn’t stop it.
At a hearing Tuesday that was scheduled for defense motions, including seeking to get the death penalty off the table, attorneys pointed the finger at each other.
Manns’ attorney, Michael Pirolo, said, “Ms. Dotson inflicted the injuries on the child that led to his death.”
Dotson’s attorney, Sarah Moore, responded, “There will be antagonistic defenses in this case. There’s no doubt that our intention is to blame Mr. Manns, as he’s stated that his intention is to blame Ms. Dotson.”
Judge Charles Crawford then made his decision on trying Dotson and Manns separately or not.
“I don’t know how, if you tried them together, either one would have the true opportunity to point the finger at the other person, and it seems that that’s where we are,” Crawford said. “I believe it’s in everybody’s fundamental best interests to sever the cases.”
Judge Crawford said other motions, like whether the death penalty should be possible if convicted, will be up to the judge presiding over the trial itself.
Trial in Judge Steve Hendersen’s courtroom is scheduled to start Aug. 18.