Warren Woman Found Guilty In Her Baby's Death
WARREN (WWJ/AP) - A 26-year-old Warren woman has been found guilty of murder and child abuse in the death of her 2-week-old daughter.
A Macomb County jury returned the verdict to Charliette Stalling on Wednesday after about three hours of deliberation. Stalling faces life in prison without parole at her November sentencing.
Prosecutors say Stalling slammed her baby's head with force in four locations. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide by blunt-force trauma to the head.
Paramedics found 15-day-old Jamiah Stalling limp and without a heartbeat when they responded to her home the 7200 block of Orchard Avenue in October 2013. The girl, who weighed less than eight pounds, died in a Detroit hospital.
Stalling's attorney had said jurors couldn't convict his client because it wasn't clear how or here the injuries occurred. Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor Therese Tobin said while Stalling might not have made admissions, she did fail to explain the injuries, The Macomb Daily reported.
"She was there and watching Jamiah that day," Tobin said. "'I don't know' isn't good enough."
Stalling was convicted of first-degree murder, felony murder and first-degree child abuse.
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