Mom Gets Life for Microwaving Baby

Mom Gets Life for Microwaving Baby

By JAMES HANNAH
, AP
posted: 2 HOURS 7 MINUTES AGO




DAYTON, Ohio (Sept. 3) -- A woman convicted of murdering her infant daughter by microwaving her was spared the death penalty Wednesday by a jury that couldn't reach a unanimous decision.
China Arnold showed no immediate reaction, but she smiled and waved to family members as deputies led her from the courtroom. Her relatives told her they loved her.

Jury Unable to Agree
China Arnold arrives in court Tuesday for the sentencing phase of her trial in Dayton, Ohio. On Aug. 29, a jury convicted her of killing her 1-month-old daughter, Parris Talley, by placing her in a microwave oven in 2005. The jury could not reach a unanimous agreement on whether to impose the death penalty."I love you all, too," said Arnold, 28.
The defense had argued that Arnold was drunk when the offense occurred and had no motive, while prosecutors had called the crime "heinous" as they argued for the death penalty.
After about five hours of deliberation, the jury told Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Wiseman that it couldn't decide whether to recommend the death penalty or life in prison, and that it wouldn't be able to make such a decision even if it deliberated through Thursday.
Wiseman is now limited to sentencing Arnold to life in prison without parole, life without parole for at least 30 years, or life without parole for at least 25 years. She plans to impose her sentence Monday.
Arnold was accused of killing month-old Paris Talley in 2005. A judge declared a mistrial in February, and the retrial began Aug. 18. The jury found Arnold guilty Friday of aggravated murder.
"It's not about achieving the death penalty," Assistant Montgomery County Prosecutor David Franceschelli said after the jury's announcement. "The judge is going to figure out the appropriate penalty. The jurors in this case took a shot at sentencing, and for whatever reason 12 people couldn't come to the same conclusion."
Outside the courthouse, Arnold's relatives hugged one another.
"We're relieved that an innocent person didn't receive the death penalty," said defense attorney Jon Paul Rion. "It doesn't make sense that a person who has had no real problems in their life can even be accused of something like this."
Rion had asked Tuesday for a new trial, saying a former cellmate who said Arnold confessed to the crime has changed her story. Wiseman has not ruled on the motion and said she would schedule a hearing.
Rion said he plans to present witnesses that point to another person being responsible for the baby's death.
During the trial, an 8-year-old boy said he saw another boy walk into the kitchen of a nearby apartment with the baby, heard the microwave go on and then later saw the burned baby in the microwave.
Attorneys for both sides addressed the jury before deliberations on Wednesday. The fact that Arnold had been a Girl Scout, that her father died when she was young and that she comes from a close family does not outweigh the seriousness of the crime, Assistant Montgomery County Prosecutor Daniel Brandt said.
"That tells us she has no excuses for her actions," he said.
Defense attorney Kevin Lennen urged the jury not to recommend the death penalty, saying Arnold was drunk at the time and that she had no motive to kill her child.
Franceschelli had the last word, calling the crime "heinous." He pulled out a wristwatch and waved it at jurors.
"If this is not the time for the death penalty, when is the time?" he said

Damn, this is gruelsome. Justice denied. How can an eight year boy's testimony be taken seriously?

you think the lilboy was lying?

candygirl wrote:

you think the lilboy was lying?

He might not have known what he was talking. That man is a minor.

so being a minor means he dont know microwave?

He said he saw a boy walk into the kitchen and heard the microwave, he didn't see for sure, he is speculating.

Kids do weird and awful stuff....tying firecrackers to captured frogs and lizards, shooting kittens with BB guns, etc. A few years ago, a kid in Flrida was convicted of killing his younger cousin while playing wrestling with her. Without knowing the full details of teh case, maybe its plausible that this woman did nt do this crime. Of course, if she did then she is completely stone looney!

Traveller wrote:

Kids do weird and awful stuff....tying firecrackers to captured frogs and lizards, shooting kittens with BB guns, etc. A few years ago, a kid in Flrida was convicted of killing his younger cousin while playing wrestling with her. Without knowing the full details of teh case, maybe its plausible that this woman did nt do this crime. Of course, if she did then she is completely stone looney!

Actually it is either way traveller. On your side of the world, a lot of wierd things do happen.

whether thr crime was committed or not, this is insane.. why I'm trying to figure out here how come a jury of 15persons couldn't come up with a verdict.... was it that they weren't too sure if she guilty or innocent.

singbe67 wrote:

Traveller wrote:

Kids do weird and awful stuff....tying firecrackers to captured frogs and lizards, shooting kittens with BB guns, etc. A few years ago, a kid in Flrida was convicted of killing his younger cousin while playing wrestling with her. Without knowing the full details of teh case, maybe its plausible that this woman did nt do this crime. Of course, if she did then she is completely stone looney!

Actually it is either way traveller. On your side of the world, a lot of wierd things do happen.

So weird things don't happen on "your" side of the world????

lol.... but did they perform an autopsy or she discarded the body....

wow

too sad...what a horrible way to die...poor child!

i am telling you mehn. i reading the thing goose bumps comigno n me
here peopel them here lookign for baby then others cooking theirs. wicked woman. life sentence too good.

Traveller wrote:

singbe67 wrote:

Traveller wrote:

Kids do weird and awful stuff....tying firecrackers to captured frogs and lizards, shooting kittens with BB guns, etc. A few years ago, a kid in Flrida was convicted of killing his younger cousin while playing wrestling with her. Without knowing the full details of teh case, maybe its plausible that this woman did nt do this crime. Of course, if she did then she is completely stone looney!

Actually it is either way traveller. On your side of the world, a lot of wierd things do happen.

So weird things don't happen on "your" side of the world????

Not like the kind that happen on your end. Imagine a man imprisoning his daughter and having her for several years.

singbe67 wrote:

Traveller wrote:

singbe67 wrote:

Traveller wrote:

Kids do weird and awful stuff....tying firecrackers to captured frogs and lizards, shooting kittens with BB guns, etc. A few years ago, a kid in Flrida was convicted of killing his younger cousin while playing wrestling with her. Without knowing the full details of teh case, maybe its plausible that this woman did nt do this crime. Of course, if she did then she is completely stone looney!

Actually it is either way traveller. On your side of the world, a lot of wierd things do happen.

So weird things don't happen on "your" side of the world????

Not like the kind that happen on your end. Imagine a man imprisoning his daughter and having her for several years.

Of course, that is nothing like female genital mutilaiton right? And of oucrse that hardly compars to throwing a burning tire around someone's neck because they are suspected of being a criminal, right?? And maybe I shouldn't even mentoin the hordes of men RIGHT IN LIBERIA who spend all their time preying on pre-pubescent young girls. My man, talk something good mehn!

Traveller wrote:

[

Of course, that is nothing like female genital mutilaiton right? And of oucrse that hardly compars to throwing a burning tire around someone's neck because they are suspected of being a criminal, right?? And maybe I shouldn't even mentoin the hordes of men RIGHT IN LIBERIA who spend all their time preying on pre-pubescent young girls. My man, talk something good mehn!

This is just crazy...