PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE UPHOLDS FETAL HOMICIDE CHARGES

Tuesday January 28, 2003

PENNSYLVANIA JUDGE UPHOLDS FETAL HOMICIDE CHARGES

ERIE, Pa., January 28, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Pennsylvania judge has upheld murder charges against a woman accused of killing the unborn child of a romantic rival. According to Erie police, Corinne Wilcott, 22, attacked the pregnant woman at a graduation party last summer, kicking her in the stomach at least four times. The 15-week-old fetus died four days later from blunt-force trauma to the mother's placenta, the autopsy found.

Pennsylvania is one of 27 states with fetal homicide laws, allowing murder charges for the killing of an unborn child of any age. Oddly, abortion is also legal during the first six months.

Reports say Wilcott argued she could not be charged with murder because the state does not consider the fetus to be a person. She also argued that Pennsylvania's fetal homicide law stands in violation of abortion rights. But Erie County Judge John Trucilla ruled last week that although a pregnant woman can choose to have an abortion, she is not exercising any "choice" in a violent attack in which her unborn child dies from wounds.

For media coverage see:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2003/jan/26/012608791.html

URL: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jan/03012809.html

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