DAYTON, Ohio
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— Jurors in an Ohio woman’s third trial found her guilty of killing her baby daughter by cooking her in a microwave oven.
China Arnold (above) was convicted of aggravated murder in the death of 28-day-old Paris Talley in August 2005. Arnold could receive the death penalty. The sentencing phase will begin this month.
Arnold’s first trial ended in a mistrial. She was found guilty in the second trial, but that conviction was reversed last Autumn. An appeals court found there was misconduct by prosecutors and that the trial court made an error by not allowing a material witness to testify in Arnold’s defence.
Prosecutors have said Arnold, 31, intentionally put the baby in the microwave after a fight with her boyfriend. The defence had argued that someone else was responsible.
Medical experts testified that the baby died
after her temperature reached 107 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit and that she probably was in the microwave for more than two minutes, dying quickly afterward.
“Baby Paris is without life, but she’s not without a voice,” the prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments. “Please listen to her.”
The jury was told that Arnold had to carry the baby over, place her in the microwave, shut the door and press buttons. Then she waited while her child cooked to death, the prosecutor said. Thank God we have not heard of a similar murder happening in Australia. Maybe it has happened but nobody has made a report. Now, don’t get any ideas.