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Trial begins for man accused of murdering 5-year-old playing outside his Wilson home

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston-Riggs
Published December 15, 2022 at 9:41 AM EST
Cannon Hinnant Justice for Cannon.jpg
1 of 3  — Cannon Hinnant Justice for Cannon.jpg
Jury selection is underway in the Cannon Hinnant murder trial in Wilson County. Darius Sessoms is accused of shooting the 5-year-old in the head while he played with his two sisters in the front yard of his home in 2020. Aolani Pettit, 21, was also charged with felony accessory after the fact.
(Photo credit: Cannon Hinnant, left, Justice for Cannon GoFundMe. Mugshots of Aolani Pettit, center, and Darius Sessoms, right, provided by the Wilson Police Department)
Darius Sessoms Wilson Police Department.jpg
2 of 3  — Darius Sessoms Wilson Police Department.jpg
Jury selection is underway in the Cannon Hinnant murder trial in Wilson County. Darius Sessoms is accused of shooting the 5-year-old in the head while he played with his two sisters in the front yard of his home in 2020. Aolani Pettit, 21, was also charged with felony accessory after the fact.
(Photo credit: Cannon Hinnant, left, Justice for Cannon GoFundMe. Mugshots of Aolani Pettit, center, and Darius Sessoms, right, provided by the Wilson Police Department)
Aolani Pettit Wilson Police Department.jpg
3 of 3  — Aolani Pettit Wilson Police Department.jpg
Jury selection is underway in the Cannon Hinnant murder trial in Wilson County. Darius Sessoms is accused of shooting the 5-year-old in the head while he played with his two sisters in the front yard of his home in 2020. Aolani Pettit, 21, was also charged with felony accessory after the fact.
(Photo credit: Cannon Hinnant, left, Justice for Cannon GoFundMe. Mugshots of Aolani Pettit, center, and Darius Sessoms, right, provided by the Wilson Police Department)

Jury selection is underway in the Cannon Hinnant murder trial in Wilson County.

Darius Sessoms is accused of shooting the 5-year-old in the head while he played with his two sisters in the front yard of his home in 2020.

A Wilson County judge decided to keep the death penalty on the table after hearing testimony in October.

Aolani Pettit, 21, was also later charged with felony accessory after the fact.

Annette Weston-Riggs
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. She has been involved in the media industry in eastern North Carolina for more than three years. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to ENC to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of toddler and baby cuddling, reading, designing costumes for children’s theater and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston-Riggs