Un Con Troll Able
02-13-2006, 03:55 PM
By JULIA GLICK, Associated Press Writer
Mon Feb 13, 1:51 PM ET
McKINNEY, Texas - A woman accused of killing her 10-month-old daughter by cutting off the baby's arms with a kitchen knife pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Monday at the start of her murder trial.
Dena Schlosser, 37, said nothing and stared straight ahead, sometimes gently rocking back and forth, as her attorney entered the plea.
Later, during opening statements, her attorney said Schlosser clearly did not know right from wrong during the November 2004 slaying of baby Margaret.
"This is somebody who at the time was not capable of knowing what she was doing was wrong," defense attorney William Schultz said. "She didn't see it coming. ... Normally Dena is a sweet woman. She cares, she has compassion."
Prosecutor Curtis Howard disagreed, saying that while Schlosser obviously had mental problems she did know right from wrong when she killed her daughter.
"At some point that morning, Dena Schlosser put Maggie Schlosser down on the bed and cut off her arms," he said.
Schlosser was arrested in 2004 after she told a 911 operator she had severed her baby's arms. Police found Schlosser in the living room, covered in blood, still holding a knife and listening to a church hymn.
Schlosser was diagnosed with manic depression after her arrest. In February 2005, a jury deliberated only a few minutes before deciding Schlosser was mentally incompetent to stand trial and she was committed to North Texas State Hospital in Vernon. But in May, a judge decided Schlosser was competent.
I'm speechless.
The rest of the story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060213/ap_on_re_us/severed_arms;_ylt=Aor09c9iQcQWYwfGrixvSW5H2ocA;_yl u=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg-
Mon Feb 13, 1:51 PM ET
McKINNEY, Texas - A woman accused of killing her 10-month-old daughter by cutting off the baby's arms with a kitchen knife pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity Monday at the start of her murder trial.
Dena Schlosser, 37, said nothing and stared straight ahead, sometimes gently rocking back and forth, as her attorney entered the plea.
Later, during opening statements, her attorney said Schlosser clearly did not know right from wrong during the November 2004 slaying of baby Margaret.
"This is somebody who at the time was not capable of knowing what she was doing was wrong," defense attorney William Schultz said. "She didn't see it coming. ... Normally Dena is a sweet woman. She cares, she has compassion."
Prosecutor Curtis Howard disagreed, saying that while Schlosser obviously had mental problems she did know right from wrong when she killed her daughter.
"At some point that morning, Dena Schlosser put Maggie Schlosser down on the bed and cut off her arms," he said.
Schlosser was arrested in 2004 after she told a 911 operator she had severed her baby's arms. Police found Schlosser in the living room, covered in blood, still holding a knife and listening to a church hymn.
Schlosser was diagnosed with manic depression after her arrest. In February 2005, a jury deliberated only a few minutes before deciding Schlosser was mentally incompetent to stand trial and she was committed to North Texas State Hospital in Vernon. But in May, a judge decided Schlosser was competent.
I'm speechless.
The rest of the story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060213/ap_on_re_us/severed_arms;_ylt=Aor09c9iQcQWYwfGrixvSW5H2ocA;_yl u=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg-