SOUTH CAROLINA COURT UPHOLDS CONVICTION IN COCAINE DEATH OF FETUS

Tuesday January 28, 2003

SOUTH CAROLINA COURT UPHOLDS CONVICTION IN COCAINE DEATH OF FETUS

COLUMBIA, S.C., January 28, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The state Supreme Court of South Carolina has upheld the conviction of a woman accused of killing her unborn baby by taking crack cocaine. The mother, Regina McKnight, was sentenced to 12 years under the state's homicide by child abuse law, for using cocaine in full knowledge that the baby could be killed.

In the 3-2 ruling, the two dissenting judges argued that it is not fair that a woman who gets an illegal abortion in her eighth month of pregnancy in South Carolina faces a maximum of two years, while McKnight was given a so-called "maximum life sentence."

The court ruled six years ago that a viable fetus is legally a child, and that women can be charged with abuse if they take drugs after this stage. McKnight's defenders are weighing the option of an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

For local coverage:
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/5044080.htm

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jan/03012808.html

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