Mother of missing boy will appeal conviction

The mother of a missing Columbia toddler has filed notice that she will appeal her conviction of unlawful conduct toward a child.

The motion of an intent to appeal was filed last week on behalf of Zinah Jennings by her defense attorney, Hemphill Pride II. Pride said he has not determined on what grounds he will appeal. He is awaiting a copy of the trial’s transcripts, he said.

The decision to appeal was made by Jennings and her mother, Jocelyn Jennings, Pride said.

“If there are grounds where she can get a new trial, they want to pursue them,” he said.

Jennings was convicted Sept. 7 by a Richland County jury and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She is incarcerated at the Graham Correctional Institution, a women’s prison off Broad River Road.

Jennings’ toddler son, Amir, was last seen by his family on Thanksgiving. She has refused to tell police or her mother where she left the boy.

Her seven-day trial included several witnesses who reported seeing Jennings hit Amir, threaten to get rid of him, and drive while drinking while the child was unrestrained in the car.

This story was originally published September 20, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Mother of missing boy will appeal conviction."