Microwave mom to go on trial

DAYTON, Ohio – A woman accused of killing her month-old daughter by burning her in a microwave was scheduled to go on trial yesterday in a case that could result in the death sentence.

Investigators believe China Arnold, 27, killed her daughter, Paris Talley, by putting her in a microwave at her home in August 2005. Arnold has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder.If convicted, she could face the death penalty.Coroner’s officials say 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.A jury of nine men and three women was seated on Wednesday evening and opening statements were expected yesterday.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, Dayton police Detective Michael Galbraith said Arnold told him she arrived home in the early morning hours after drinking, fell asleep and was awakened at 02h30 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 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.Nampa-APArnold has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder.If convicted, she could face the death penalty.Coroner’s officials say 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.A jury of nine men and three women was seated on Wednesday evening and opening statements were expected yesterday.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, Dayton police Detective Michael Galbraith said Arnold told him she arrived home in the early morning hours after drinking, fell asleep and was awakened at 02h30 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 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.Nampa-AP

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