A Colorado mother who cut the seven-month-old foetus from the womb of a pregnant woman has been jailed for 100 years, after being convicted of attempted murder.
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Because of that, the prosecutors were only able to charge Lane of attempting to kill Michelle Wilkins, and on charges of assault and unlawful termination of a pregnancy.
Lane’s lawyer, Kathryn Herold, told the court that years ago Lane lost one of her three children, an 18-month-old son who drowned.
Lane had feigned pregnancy for a year, and Ridley had become frustrated because she had continued to miss or cancel doctor’s appointments.
Wilkins’ father called Lane’s attack “savagery”, and Boulder District Judge Maria Berkenkotter called it “brutal, shocking and cruel”. Wilkins survived the attack, but her unborn baby girl did not. Wilkins testified that the two chatted for a while before Lane hit, pushed and tried to choke her. Unbelievably, she then used two kitchen knives to cut the baby from her womb.
Lane did not speak during the sentence hearing and her mother Carol DeHerrera told the court she never recovered from the accidental drowning death of her young son.
“This event has shattered our lives”, Wilkins said.
After bringing the baby to Longmont United Hospital, Lane claimed it was hers.
Defense attorneys had argued the attack was made impulsively and that it wasn’t planned, and that she should be held accountable for reckless manslaughter and not attempted murder. Asked in court if she wanted to speak, she said “no”.
Following the incident that resulted in the loss of Wilkins’ baby, Lane carried the baby from the basement, where Wilkins lay unconscious, just as her partner was arriving home. You embrace your narcissistic fantasy to fulfill the lie you created and it was more important than my right to live and Aurora’s right to live, ” CNN quoted her as saying.
Lane was charged with assault, attempted murder and unlawful termination of pregnancy.
The defense asked for concurrent sentences instead of consecutive ones, citing Lane’s cooperation in prison and her ability to be rehabilitated.
Colorado Republicans introduced legislation that would have allowed such a murder charge, but it was rejected by Democrat politicians.
Wilkins, who was 26 at the time, managed to lock herself in a room and call 911. They described Lane as a caring, loving person and a dedicated mother to her two daughters. Mutual friends of theirs had even thrown Lane a baby shower.
The DA’s office explained during the sentencing hearing Friday that the 126-year sentence they originally sought for Lane was adjusted, after further examination of each count.
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