LOS ANGELES, California – A woman from South Los Angeles has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the tragic death of her 4-year-old daughter. Akira Keyshell Smith, 37, was handed her sentence on Tuesday following emotional victim impact statements from the child’s relatives in court.

Eternity, the young girl, died on August 11, 2020, after suffering abuse at the hands of her mother. Smith’s other sons, who are now in foster care, testified that she had assaulted and abused the 4-year-old girl. According to their testimony, on the day of Eternity’s death, Smith slapped, kicked, hit, and choked her daughter until she was unconscious.

Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami described the case as “horrendous” and stated that Smith had beaten her daughter to death in front of her sons, who will have to live with the trauma for the rest of their lives. Last month, Smith pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, leading to the 25-to-life sentence as part of her plea deal, which included the dismissal of lesser charges.

The tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children, from harm and abuse. Smith’s actions have led to a devastating loss and a lifetime of trauma for her surviving children.

In a solemn conclusion to the case, justice has been served as Smith begins her lengthy prison sentence for the horrific crime she committed against her own daughter. The court’s decision follows a series of emotional testimonies and marks the beginning of a long road to healing for the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy. Eternity’s memory will live on, and the hope is that her story will raise awareness and prompt action to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.