Post by sclcookie on Jun 3, 2006 2:34:14 GMT -5
Man, 25, indicted in death of fetus----Capital murder charge may bring the
death penalty
A grand jury on Thursday indicted a 25-year-old man on a charge of capital
murder in death of his girlfriend's fetus.
Thomas Short is accused of hitting and choking his girlfriend, Virginia
Cruz, on April 6 and then stomping on her stomach. Cruz was believed to
have been about four months pregnant, according to authorities.
"The evidence in the case indicates that a living fetus was killed as a
result of the defendant," according to District Attorney Carlos Valdez.
According to the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office, the fetus died
after the assault.
This is the second time the district attorney's office has brought capital
murder charges against a man accused of killing a fetus since the 2003
fetal protection law took effect.
Bruce Wayne Gerard was indicted for capital murder in the death of his
girlfriend's fetus on Sept. 1, 2005, but the charge was lowered to
aggravated assault. He was found guilty of the reduced charge and
sentenced to 20 years in prison in April.
If found guilty, Short faces the possibility of the death penalty or life
in prison.
(source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times)
death penalty
A grand jury on Thursday indicted a 25-year-old man on a charge of capital
murder in death of his girlfriend's fetus.
Thomas Short is accused of hitting and choking his girlfriend, Virginia
Cruz, on April 6 and then stomping on her stomach. Cruz was believed to
have been about four months pregnant, according to authorities.
"The evidence in the case indicates that a living fetus was killed as a
result of the defendant," according to District Attorney Carlos Valdez.
According to the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office, the fetus died
after the assault.
This is the second time the district attorney's office has brought capital
murder charges against a man accused of killing a fetus since the 2003
fetal protection law took effect.
Bruce Wayne Gerard was indicted for capital murder in the death of his
girlfriend's fetus on Sept. 1, 2005, but the charge was lowered to
aggravated assault. He was found guilty of the reduced charge and
sentenced to 20 years in prison in April.
If found guilty, Short faces the possibility of the death penalty or life
in prison.
(source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times)