Carly Gregg Filed Motion for Rehearing
Defense attorneys seek to overturn convictions for the 2024 murders in Mississippi.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Carly Gregg, currently serving life sentences for the March 2024 killing of her mother and wounding of her stepfather, has filed a motion for a rehearing with the Mississippi Supreme Court. The defense argues that trial irregularities, including a rushed schedule and prejudicial testimony, denied the 17-year-old a fair trial.
Why it matters
The appeal challenges whether the judicial process adequately addressed mental health considerations for the then-14-year-old defendant. Attorneys claim prosecutorial remarks regarding early release and references to the novel Crime and Punishment improperly swayed the jury.
Gregg is serving life sentences and a 10-year term at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl. Her defense team has specifically requested that the court grant parole eligibility.
The players
Carly Gregg
She is a 17-year-old currently incarcerated at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.
James Murphy
He is the defense attorney who filed the motion for a rehearing on behalf of Gregg.
Mississippi Supreme Court
This is the state's highest court currently reviewing the appeal of the 2024 murder convictions.
The details
Defense attorney James Murphy filed the motion, asserting that an unauthorized sanity examination order and an accelerated trial timeline compromised the legal process. Gregg, who was 14 at the time of the shooting in Brandon, previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Timeline
March 2024: Gregg shot her mother and stepfather in Brandon.
September 2024: A jury found Gregg guilty of all charges.
May 2026: The Mississippi Supreme Court heard oral arguments.
August 2026: The court affirmed the lower court's verdict and sentences.
September 17, 2026: The defense filed the motion for a rehearing.
Legal Context
This filing follows the standard appellate path for defendants seeking to challenge trial-level procedural errors in Mississippi. It highlights the recurring tension in high-profile juvenile cases between expedited judicial scheduling and the necessity of thorough psychological evaluation.
The filing of this motion does not immediately alter the status of Gregg, who remains in custody at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. Residents and local observers may monitor upcoming court dockets for news on whether the state supreme court chooses to grant the requested hearing.
The takeaway
The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities of prosecuting juvenile defendants in cases involving insanity pleas. The resolution of this appeal will likely hinge on whether the court determines that the trial's procedural constraints undermined the defendant's constitutional rights.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's appellate processes on the Criminal Justice page.
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