LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Television anchorwoman Anne Pressly reached weakly toward her mother after a brutal attack, her last attempt to communicate before falling into a coma and dying five days later.

Patti Cannady was visiting Little Rock to celebrate her daughter’s bit role in the movie “W” and to see her only child serve as master of ceremonies at a governor’s mansion event. But Cannady discovered her 26-year-old daughter bruised and bloodied after she didn’t answer her daily wake-up call.

“Anne, momma’s here. Momma’s here,” Cannady said Wednesday, recalling for jurors i...