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California Attorney General Rob Bonta advised Thursday that murder charges aren’t warranted for women who have stillborn babies – even in cases where the woman’s actions contributed to the death.
“It’s an experience that should be met with an outreached hand, not handcuffs and murder charges,” Bonta said of women who go through a stillbirth.
His online news conference was prompted by the California Future of Abortion Council, a group of abortion providers and advocacy groups, who asked Bonta to interpret state law.
Bonta said murder charges in a fetus death should be brought only against those whose violence against the mother causes the loss of the baby but shouldn’t include any actions the woman takes herself.
He said miscarriages happen in the first trimester in about one in 10 births and about one in every 160 deliveries are stillborn, adding that allowing murder or manslaughter charges would cause unnecessary scrutiny on women with those pregnancy outcomes.
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He added that addicted women might avoid health care during their pregnancy, fearing they could be prosecuted.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks to reporters in Sacramento, Aug. 17, 2021.
(Associated Press)
California defines murder as “the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.” But it excludes any act that “was solicited, aided, abetted, or consented to by the mother of the fetus.”
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta advised Thursday that murder charges for women who have stillborn babies aren’t warranted – even if the women’s actions contributed to the death.
(iStock)
Two women have been charged with fetal murder recently in the state for birthing stillborn babies. Prosecutors alleged their drug use contributed to the fetus’ death.
Charges were dismissed last May…
Source : foxnews
