n Smith's motion, his attorneys presented testimony from six expert witnesses spanning multiple medical and scientific disciplines, including three forensic pathologists, a radiologist, a hematologist, a pediatric neurosurgeon and a biomechanical engineer.

Gallant found their testimony was reliable, admissible and based on scientific developments that were unavailable at the time of Smith's 2003 trial.

 The Court finds that the particular expert opinions presented at the Extraordinary Motion for New Trial hearing are based on advancements in the research and understanding of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma and could not have been offered in their present form at the time of the 2003 trial,  Gallant wrote.

Chandler's mother, Marsha Brandon, did not respond to an interview request. She has repeatedly told Atlanta News First that she believes Smith is guilty and should remain in prison.  I mean, my baby was abused. He was murdered by Danyel Smith. And that's what it is. That's why he's in jail and I'm happy about it and he needs to stay there,  said Brandon in March.

The judge emphasized that her ruling does not determine whether Smith's new medical explanation is ultimately correct. Instead, she wrote, the legal question was whether the newly discovered evidence was significant enough that another jury could reasonably reach a different conclusion.

 The Court need not determine whether this alternative diagnosis is definitively the correct one,  Gallant wrote. After weighing the new testimony against the evidence presented at trial, Gallant concluded Smith met that burden.

 Mr. Smith presented a coherent, comprehensive, and medically and scientifically supported alternative explanation for Chandler's death,  the judge wrote. She added that  a reasonable juror could find Mr. Smith's newly discovered expert testimony plausible and persuasive. 

Gallant ultimately concluded the newly discovered evidence  would probably produce a different verdict,  satisfying the legal standard required to grant a new trial.

The Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on Gallant's ruling.

Smith's attorneys have filed a motion asking the court to release him on bond while prosecutors decide whether to retry the case.

Gallant has scheduled a status hearing for Sept. 1. At that hearing, prosecutors are expected to tell the court whether they intend to retry the case. Smith's attorneys are also seeking his release on bond while that decision is pending.

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