Florida: Mother charged with murder for starving her baby

A woman living in Lee County, southwest Florida, was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly starving her 18-month-old baby, a crime for which she can be sentenced to life in prison, if convicted. , reported this Tuesday a local media.

Sheila O’Leary, of Cape Coral, was charged with the crimes of “murder in the first degree, aggravated child abuse of a minor, child neglect and child abuse,” the WINKS News channel reported.

O’Leary, who had previously rejected the prosecution’s plea deal for 30 years in prison, was warned by the judge in charge of the case that, if found guilty, she will receive a life sentence.

On Monday the medical examiner stated that the baby, Ezra, “appeared to be severely malnourished at the time of his death.”

In closing arguments, the prosecution indicated that there is sufficient evidence for the jury to find O’Leary guilty “beyond reasonable doubt.”

The defense asked the jury in its closing argument to consider that their client did not take her baby to the doctor because “she may have been afraid her child would be taken from her,” and that O’Leary “did not mean to harm Ezra.” ”.

This story was originally published on June 28, 2022 8:21 p.m.

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