Mother Of Three Accused Of Murdering Her Baby Girl Faces Death If Convicted
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"If I hadn't gotten so drunk, I guess my baby wouldn't have died."
China Arnold (26), of Dayton, Ohio, is charged with aggravated murder in the August 30th, 2005, death of her month-old daughter, Paris Talley.
She has pleaded not guilty.
The coroner concluded that the injuries to the baby could have been caused only by the child being cooked in a microwave oven.
China Arnold told police she was drunk but could not recall doing anything that caused the child's burns, a court heard.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
A detective stated that Ms. Arnold told him she arrived home in the early hours after drinking, fell asleep and was woken at 2.30am by the baby's crying. She said she warmed a bottle in the microwave, tried to give it to the baby, changed the child's nappy and then fell asleep on the couch with the baby on her chest.
Ms Arnold said she and her three children - aged seven, six and three - were the only ones in the apartment until her boyfriend arrived several hours later and noticed something was wrong with the baby, the detective said.
Court's Adjourned!
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