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Defense: snitch lied in Fla. missing girl case

January 23, 2013 | Modified: January 23, 2013 at 3:17 pm
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MIAMI (AP) — A defense attorney says a jailhouse snitch concocted a story about a confession by a South Florida woman accused of killing a 4-year-old foster child in order to get out of prison.

Attorney Michael Matters told jurors in a closing argument Wednesday there were inconsistencies in testimony by inmate Robin Lunceford. Geralyn Graham supposedly confessed to smothering Rilya Wilson and burying her body over a decade ago.

Lunceford got a life prison sentence reduced to 10 years.

If convicted the 67-year-old Graham faces life in prison. Rilya went missing in late 2000 but her disappearance was not noticed by the state officials for 15 months. That led to high-level agency resignations and passage of child welfare reforms.

Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Thursday. Graham has maintained her innocence.