DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a woman accused of killing her 1-month-old daughter by burning the child in a microwave oven.
If convicted of aggravated murder, China Arnold, 27, could face the death penalty.
Investigators believe Arnold killed 1-month-old Paris Talley by putting her in a microwave at her home. Arnold's attorneys argue she had nothing to do with the baby's death in 2005.
Coroner's officials have said the baby suffered high-heat internal injuries and had no external burns. They have ruled out scalding water, open flame or other possible causes of death that could have damaged the skin.
Defense attorney Jon Paul Rion has said Arnold had nothing to do with her daughter's death and was stunned when investigators told her that a microwave might have been involved. Arnold took the baby to the hospital after finding her unconscious and does not know how she died, Rion said.
During a pretrial hearing in July, police Detective Michael Galbraith said Arnold told him she arrived home in the early morning hours after drinking, fell asleep and was awakened at 2:30 a.m. by the baby's crying.
She said she warmed a bottle in the microwave oven, tried to give it to the baby, changed the child's diaper and then fell asleep on the couch with the baby on her chest.
Arnold said she and her children were the only ones in the apartment until her boyfriend arrived several hours later and noticed something was wrong with the baby.
Galbraith said Arnold told him: "If I hadn't gotten so drunk, I guess my baby wouldn't have died."
When cross-examined by Rion, Galbraith acknowledged that Arnold told him she did not know how the baby suffered the burns and that she had nothing to do with it that she could recall.
Earlier this month, defense witness Robert Belloto, a staff pharmacist at Good Samaritan Hospital, testified he does not believe it would have been possible for Arnold to place the baby in the microwave because the woman was so intoxicated.
Belloto said Arnold told him she had consumed about 40 percent of a pint of high-proof rum in 90 minutes. But he acknowledged that he had no other corroboration for her claim.
Garrick said
21:07 01/28 2008
This woman wicked nuh ra**c*at. She should bun in hell.
rrDesignZ said
21:07 01/28 2008
jah kno
fabio said
22:03 01/28 2008
jah kn star mi cayn believe a ra**c*atsssssssssssss
fabio said
22:04 01/28 2008
she wicked nuh f**k poor d likkle pickney
fabio said
22:04 01/28 2008
yow mi vex u f**k mi nah lie mi affi a comment ole heeep a time
shami said
00:14 01/29 2008
aww soo saddd damnn~
Crazypickney said
13:10 01/30 2008
geezzaamm, gosh man
Mekhilla said
13:27 01/30 2008
wtf dis is jus evil...nutten else...evil
riddimqueen said
14:05 01/30 2008
WTF I READING THERE SOME SICK PPL IN THIS WORLD
jluv said
14:45 01/30 2008
mi feel it fi dat poor child.....
bLaCkBeatZ said
20:40 01/30 2008
ahhhh boi an innocent child.....
linko said
23:57 01/30 2008
NUH WRRY GAD AGO KILL DI b*t*h
littlemisslinkz said
04:44 01/31 2008
lol @ linko fi real
b*t*h fi dead yes
DJ Romeo said
10:43 01/31 2008
Sick b*t*h fire bun fi her.
blackspyda said
14:13 02/01 2008
that siiiiccck
lyndo said
14:55 02/01 2008
a nuh mus she if unno read good it could be di bf but a jus dat she drunk why everyting a fall pon har mi nah accuse har is either she or her bf
If convicted of aggravated murder, China Arnold, 27, could face the death penalty.
Investigators believe Arnold killed 1-month-old Paris Talley by putting her in a microwave at her home. Arnold's attorneys argue she had nothing to do with the baby's death in 2005.
Coroner's officials have said the baby suffered high-heat internal injuries and had no external burns. They have ruled out scalding water, open flame or other possible causes of death that could have damaged the skin.
Defense attorney Jon Paul Rion has said Arnold had nothing to do with her daughter's death and was stunned when investigators told her that a microwave might have been involved. Arnold took the baby to the hospital after finding her unconscious and does not know how she died, Rion said.
During a pretrial hearing in July, police Detective Michael Galbraith said Arnold told him she arrived home in the early morning hours after drinking, fell asleep and was awakened at 2:30 a.m. by the baby's crying.
She said she warmed a bottle in the microwave oven, tried to give it to the baby, changed the child's diaper and then fell asleep on the couch with the baby on her chest.
Arnold said she and her children were the only ones in the apartment until her boyfriend arrived several hours later and noticed something was wrong with the baby.
Galbraith said Arnold told him: "If I hadn't gotten so drunk, I guess my baby wouldn't have died."
When cross-examined by Rion, Galbraith acknowledged that Arnold told him she did not know how the baby suffered the burns and that she had nothing to do with it that she could recall.
Earlier this month, defense witness Robert Belloto, a staff pharmacist at Good Samaritan Hospital, testified he does not believe it would have been possible for Arnold to place the baby in the microwave because the woman was so intoxicated.
Belloto said Arnold told him she had consumed about 40 percent of a pint of high-proof rum in 90 minutes. But he acknowledged that he had no other corroboration for her claim.