Malaya Heun Trial Postponed

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The two people accused of murdering Malaya Heun in Kannapolis were supposed to go to trial this coming Monday, 26 months after they were arrested.

But the trial has been delayed, indefinitely. A lieutenant with the Kannapolis Police Department tells WCCB Charlotte, “The investigation (into Malaya’s murder) is ongoing. A continuance was requested, and both the prosecution and defense agreed to it.”

Malaya’s murder broke hearts and turned stomachs across the Charlotte area. In January 2014, the toddler was beaten so badly, her intestines ruptured. Medical records show she had seven broken ribs. A broken collar bone. Bruises all over her head and body. And alcohol in her system. It was too much for her 15-month-old body to take. Malaya died.

Her accused killers are her aunt and her aunt’s boyfriend.  They were baby-sitting the toddler the night she was beaten.

Alisha Carlisle’s bond was reduced from $1,000,000 to $500,000. One of Malaya’s family members tells WCCB that Alisha’s family paid her bond. The accused baby killer is now out of jail. Someone runs a Facebook page dedicated to seeking “justice” for Alisha. The last post was on June 1, and says “Seems like time has stood still but God is more than enough.”

John Travis Turner remains in jail; a judge declined to set bond for him. And a Facebook page called “Justice for John Travis Turner” has evidently been deactivated.

Another of Malaya’s aunts tells WCCB, “…the ones who murdered this child should be tormented the exact (same) way,” and, “My heart still hurts for her.”

Both Carlisle and Turner are charged with first degree murder. Medical experts determined Malaya also had older injuries in various stages of healing. We’ll let you know when a new trial date has been set.