The trial of young Carly Gregg from Mississippi begins this week. What you should know

Starting Monday, September 16, 15-year-old Carly Madison Gregg will stand trial for the murder of her 40-year-old mother and the attempted murder of her stepfather.

Gregg, who was 14 at the time of the crime, is alleged to have shot her mother Ashley Smylie and injured her stepfather Heath Smylie in the family home in Brandon in March. In May, a grand jury indicted Gregg as an adult on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and tampering with evidence.

Gregg is being held in solitary confinement at the Rankin County Jail in Brandon until her trial.

The presiding judge in this case is Rankin County District Court Judge Dewey Arthur.

Below is everything we know ahead of the upcoming trial:

When is the trial of Carly Madison Gregg?

The trial is scheduled to begin on September 16. According to both the prosecution and the defense, the hearing is expected to last several days.

Day 1 of Gregg’s trial begins with:Jury hears emergency call and watches bodycam footage after opening statement

What is Carly Madison Gregg accused of?

During a preliminary hearing in April, Rankin County Investigator Zachary Cotton testified that Gregg shot her mother multiple times after Ashely “took some items” from Gregg's bedroom at the Brandon home. Then Gregg allegedly invited a friend over, claiming it was an “emergency,” only to show the friend her mother's body. The investigator said Gregg told the same friend that “two for the head and one for the chest” were waiting for Heath.

Read on to learn more about:Teen murder suspect Carly Madison Gregg rejects 40-year prison sentence. See what she faces

According to Cotton, after shooting her mother twice in the face and once under the chin, Gregg texted Heath from her cellphone to lure her stepfather into the house. Heath allegedly resisted and grabbed the gun before Gregg fled over a fence, after which authorities tracked her movements with a helicopter and arrested her a short time after the incident. Cotton said the stepfather said Gregg's “eyes were really big, like she saw a demon or something” as the two wrestled over the gun.

During a hearing on Tuesday, September 10, defense attorney Bridget Todd told the court that Heath was expected to stand by Gregg as a witness despite being a victim.

What punishment could Carly Madison Gregg face?

On August 27, Gregg confirmed in court that she would rather go to trial and potentially face two life sentences than accept the state's plea deal, which calls for a 40-year sentence. The defense is pleading insanity.

“The jury will either acquit you or you will face two life sentences. Alternatively, the court can sentence you to up to 93 years. Do you understand that?” asked Arthur Gregg.

“Yes, Your Honor,” said Gregg.

See why:Carly Gregg was found fit to stand trial based on the judge's decision

What evidence did Carly Madison Gregg's lawyer want to exclude?

During a hearing on Tuesday, September 10, Kevin Dale Camp, one of Gregg's defense attorneys, attempted to exclude evidence of a urine drug test conducted when Gregg was admitted to the Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center, arguing that it was “a search and therefore a search warrant was required.”

“There is no consent, there is no warrant, the test was not administered properly,” Camp said. “It is being used for a purpose other than the juvenile detention center. For all of those reasons, Your Honor, we ask that the test be excluded…”

Rankin County Juvenile Court Prosecutor Corey Gerber stated during testimony that Gregg tested positive for marijuana upon arrival at the facility. State's Attorney Kathryn White Newman also said Gregg admitted to smoking marijuana on or about March 18, the day before the shootings that killed Ashely and injured Heath.

“We believe this information is certainly relevant because (Gregg) has asserted her right to an insanity defense. … Once the defendant challenges her sanity, the door is wide open to the admission of evidence of any act in the defendant's life that is relevant to the question of insanity or incompetence and can be admitted into evidence,” Newman said.

Read on to learn more about:What was Carly Madison Gregg high on when she allegedly murdered her mother?

Arthur heard arguments from both sides before ruling that the defense's motion to suppress the urine drug test was denied.

Other medications could become a recurring theme throughout the trial. At an earlier hearing, Gregg's attorneys pointed out that she had changed her antidepressant in the weeks before the murder, suggesting the change had affected her behavior. The defense said Gregg had started taking the anxiety and depression drug Lexapro. One of the defense witnesses is Dr. Andrew Clark, who is expected to testify about Gregg's mental health.

Will Carly Madison Gregg be transferred from the Rankin County Jail?

Camp tried to convince Arthur to transfer the case to juvenile court during the hearing on Tuesday, September 10. Rankin County Juvenile Attorney Corey Gerber testified at the hearing and stated that he felt transferring the case would be inappropriate given the charges Gregg faces. Arthur agreed with Gerber and denied the defense's motion, saying, “Retransferring the case is essentially an acquittal. I don't think that's appropriate.”

Gregg is currently being held in solitary confinement at the Rankin County Jail, an adult prison, in Brandon, pending trial. Due to the seriousness of the crimes, Gregg will be tried as an adult.

Why are Carly Madison Gregg’s lawyers being criticized by a judge?

Todd and Camp, Gregg's defense attorneys, faced the frustration of a judge who accused the defense of intentionally withholding evidence and missing key deadlines in the case.

During a hearing on August 19, Camp said the defense hired a doctor in July to evaluate Gregg's mental state, but the doctor has not yet completed his report. The defense said it will submit the final report to the prosecution once it is completed. Arthur expressed concern about the delay.

“This is starting to sound like a deliberate attempt to gain a tactical advantage,” Arthur said. “This is a total ambush, a total backstabbing to hold back the report until 10 days before, and that is not the purpose of an insanity defense.”

Camp told the court that the defense was “not intentionally withholding” the report.

“A total ambush, a complete breakthrough from the undergrowth”:Judge accuses defense of juvenile murder suspect Carly Gregg of withholding material

Arthur ordered that all evidence from both the prosecution and the defense must be submitted by August 20 or it would not be considered at trial.

Then came the hearing on Tuesday, September 10, where prosecutors revealed that they had not received a witness list from the defense by the deadline and had received only minimal information by September 3. The state asked Arthur to prohibit the defense from presenting witnesses and evidence after the discovery deadline.

The trial of young Carly Gregg from Mississippi begins this week. What you should know

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