Families in court after tragic death

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - It was an emotion-packed courtroom Tuesday, in Niagara Falls City Court. Eleven family members of five-year-old Isabelle Tennant were in court, along with 11 family members of suspect 16-year-old John Freeman.

The family of the victim stared at the suspects very intently, with anger on their faces. On the other side, as soon as John Freeman walked in several members burst into tears.

It was a very civil hearing, there were no outbursts on either side.

Freeman’s defense attorney said he believes the prosecution’s case rests on the confession that Freeman gave police. He asked the judge to seal that confession, because he plans of fighting it’s admissibility in court. The judge did agree to seal the confessions.

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The judge also mentioned that he plans on having a competency hearing, to see if Freeman is competent enough to stand trial.

News 4 spoke with a family friend of Tyler Best Tuesday morning, the other suspect who is accused of helping hide the body, she says that he is a good kid otherwise and just made a horrible mistake.

Brandy Reid said, “I’m not condoning what he did at all, but you know there are people that love him and our condolences and our hearts, and prayers go out to Isabella’s family.”

Reid said it was hard to be in the courtroom Tuesday. “I’ve been there since he was born, and I love him like he is mine. I’m a mother myself, I can’t imagine what her family is feeling, I know what I feel for Tyler and I don’t know, it’s very hard.”