No New Trial for NK Woman Convicted for Murdering Daughter, 8

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI—A North Kingstown woman’s 2011 second-degree murder conviction for strangling her 8-year-old daughter to death before tucking her into bed has been upheld by the state Supreme Court.

Kimberly Fry’s public defender in October argued before the Supreme Court that she should get a new trial because the jury in her weeks-long, highly-emotional trial in 2011 were not told to consider a voluntary manslaughter charge due to her mental state when she killed her daughter, Camden, in 2009.

Fry’s lawyer argued that Fry’s diminished mental state, along with her suffering from severe depression, anxiety and insomnia, should have been considered based on the evidence presented at trial.

She also argued that the jury’s viewing of a seven-minute long video of the crime scene, including three minutes of footage of the child’s body, should not have been admitted as evidence and unfairly prejudiced the jury.

In the decision, the court determined that Fry’s lawyer during the trial failed to challenge the jury instructions and noted they weren’t raised during the trail.

The court also disagreed with the assertion that the video should not have been admitted.

Supreme Court Justice Francis X. Flaherty issued a dissenting opinion and said the video’s value was disproportionate to its effect on the jury and should have been excluded.

Fry was sentenced to 40 years in prison, 20 to serve.

Camden’s death sent a shockwave of grief and horror through the community as details of her death were reported during the trial.

In a statement, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin said he applauded the decision of the court to affirm Fry’s murder conviction.

“Camden Fry was a bright, happy child whose life was brutally cut short by the person who should have protected her from harm – her mother,” Kilmartin said. “That this defendant could so coldly snuff out the life of her own child is unfathomable, and today’s decision affirms that a measure of justice has been served for Camden. Our thoughts continue to be with Camden’s family, especially her loving father and grandparents.”