Mistrial declared in microwave baby case

CptSternn · 02-12-2008, 02:46 AM

http://news.**********/s/ap/20080212...l4MfZ90Nas0NUE

DAYTON, Ohio - A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the case of woman accused of killing her month-old daughter by burning her in a microwave, finding that new defense witnesses bolster her claim that she is innocent.

Judge John Kessler made the decision after hearing testimony privately from a juvenile who said he was at the apartment complex of defendant China Arnold on the night her infant died in August 2005. The judge did not give details about the juvenile's testimony.

Arnold, 27, showed little emotion when the judge announced his decision but appeared sad as she walked out of the courtroom and was returned to jail. Family members in the courtroom had no audible reaction but hugged one another in the hall as they were leaving.

Testimony was complete in the trial, and it had been on the verge of going to the jury. Kessler continued a gag order in the case, so neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys would comment.

The judge had also heard testimony from the father of the juvenile who said he was at the complex and was presented with affidavits from an adult witness. Prosecutors asked Kessler to reject the evidence, questioning its truthfulness, the judge said.

But Kessler said that the evidence is new and that the defense hasn't had a chance to investigate it.

Ordering the trial to move forward without considering the evidence would be instant grounds for reversal of any conviction, Kessler said.

Allowing the evidence during the final stages of the trial would deny prosecutors and defense attorneys a full opportunity to investigate it, he said. It could also affect how Arnold chose to confront other witnesses and influence her decision to testify or not, he said.

Kessler discharged the jury and ordered the case placed back on the court docket for further scheduling.

Police investigators believe Arnold killed the girl, Paris Talley, by putting her in a microwave at her Dayton home. Coroner's officials said the baby suffered high-heat internal injuries and had no external burns.

Arnold could face the death penalty if convicted. She has pleaded not guilty.

During the trial, prosecution witnesses said Arnold admitted that killing the baby by putting her in the microwave, that the baby was small enough to fit into the oven and that a sample of DNA found on the ceiling of the appliance matched that of the child.

Defense witnesses said that Arnold told them she had nothing to do with the baby's death and didn't know how it happened and that she expressed shock at being told the child might have been burned in a microwave.

Ok, how exactly do you not know that your one month old child was killed in a microwave? I mean, seriously, how do you lose a one month old, not realise it's missing, then find it in a microwaved, dead, and act shocked when they tell you your being charged with killing it in a microwave?

I mean, it looks like the defense is arguing that she left the one month old unattended at home and came back to discover it dead in the crib. That then leads to more questions like - who leaves a one month old alone while they run off to the shop? Who breaks into a flat and microwaves a baby? I mean seriously - are they trying to argue a random crackhead mistook it for a burrito? Then you have to ask, who attempted to clean up the microwave?

I'm guessing they are going for the insanity plea on this, which is why they are making her seem like she has no idea whats going on, but that being said - what exactly was she thinking when she microwaved her child?

Underwater Ophelia · 02-12-2008, 06:46 AM

This is just awful...
I'd think she really is insane to do that, though.

Tam Li Hua · 02-12-2008, 07:29 AM

Split personality disorder..? Schitzophrenia..? Post-pardem depression..?

Not that any of those excuse the action, of course...

Clockwork · 02-12-2008, 06:47 PM

Split personality wouldn't be the cause of this. She is simply very, very bad at making up excuses.

Post Modern Girl · 02-13-2008, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptSternn

Who breaks into a flat and microwaves a baby? I mean seriously - are they trying to argue a random crackhead mistook it for a burrito? Then you have to ask, who attempted to clean up the microwave?

Oh god that made me laugh

On a more serious note, this is just weird.

Tha Duckman · 02-13-2008, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptSternn

Who breaks into a flat and microwaves a baby?

I was cleared of all charges!!!

Tam Li Hua · 02-13-2008, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clockwork

Split personality wouldn't be the cause of this. She is simply very, very bad at making up excuses.

Eh, I was just naming different mental and emotional disorders that may have been factors in this case.

I think she may have a good case for that insanity plea..

Renatus · 02-13-2008, 06:45 AM

What it would take to put a baby in a microwave and then beyond all of it's cries for help leave it there to die a terrible death is beyond me.

Post Modern Girl · 02-13-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renatus

What it would take to put a baby in a microwave and then beyond all of it's cries for help leave it there to die a terrible death is beyond me.

It takes one sick bitch.

Tam Li Hua · 02-13-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renatus

What it would take to put a baby in a microwave and then beyond all of it's cries for help leave it there to die a terrible death is beyond me.

Doesn't post-pardem depression sometimes inspire thoughts of wanting to kill one's own child? [I know I could be totally off on this..]

Post Modern Girl · 02-13-2008, 07:00 AM

But there has been other cases of microwaving babies out there...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18807327/

Or maybe she read this site and got confused. It is a misleading title...
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node...&lastnode_id=0

Ok, that was only a joke (albiet a tasteless one)
I think the case (up there in my link ^^^) where the wife thinks her husband was was controlled by the devil, just proves only insane people do this shit.

I don't think people can actually be sane to do something like that, pleading insanity is the only rational thing I think they can come up with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tam Li Hua

Doesn't post-pardem depression sometimes inspire thoughts of wanting to kill one's own child? [I know I could be totally off on this..]

I hear what you're saying but post-natal depression may make you want to kill your baby but to microwave it? Thats just plain evil.

Tam Li Hua · 02-13-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Post Modern Girl

I hear what you're saying but post-natal depression may make you want to kill your baby but to microwave it? Thats just plain evil.

Mm, that's a good point. It -does- seem a -bit-...extreme?

Post Modern Girl · 02-13-2008, 07:31 AM

I guess there have been cases of people killing their babies and putting them in the freezer etc but I think microwaving them is fucking rotten.
I seen an episode of CSI where these two kids were messing aroung and one got in a washing machine and the outcome was nasty.
I'd hate to be the one to find a microwaved baby !