Man accused of killing woman with can of beans claims cause of death was ‘spontaneous’

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA/Gray News) – A man in South Dakota is accused of killing a woman with a can of beans.

Pedro Simental, 44, is charged with one count of first-degree manslaughter for the death of Edleigha Little, 40.

The death happened in November 2023. Simental had another court appearance on Monday.

Officials said Simental is accused of hitting Little with a can of beans, causing trauma to her head that resulted in her death on Nov. 10, 2023.

On Monday, Simental’s lawyer argued he needed 10 years’ worth of Little’s medical records to show that the hematoma that caused her death was not from blunt-force trauma.

The defense claimed Little was a “severe alcoholic,” and her years of drinking could have caused the hematoma. The defense also argued that one of the state’s doctors said Little’s hematoma was “spontaneous.”

Judge Joshua Hendrickson decided five years of medical records would suffice and set Simental’s next hearing for Aug. 26.

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