JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) - The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday to overturn the death penalty for Craig Wood, the convicted killer of 10-year-old Hailey Owens.

Wood, a former Springfield teacher’s aide and coach, was sentenced to death in 2018. The state’s highest court upheld the conviction and punishment in 2019 after Wood’s initial appeal. Wood had another appeal hearing in Greene County last year.

Wood’s legal team argued Wednesday that the jury did not hear during closing arguments that Owens’ mother wanted Wood to receive a life sentence instead of the death penalty.

“The jury never got to hear what in fact Hailey Owens’ mother wanted, but they got this different perspective that in fact she wanted death, and heard all of this community impact as well,” said Wood’

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