Defence seeks new trial in microwaved baby case
Lawyers for an Ohio woman convicted of microwaving her baby daughter have asked for a new trial because a former cellmate who claimed she confessed to the killing had changed her story.
Jon Paul Rion said Linda Williams, who testified during China Arnold’s first trial earlier this year, contacted him yesterday and told him she was “ready to tell the truth”.
“I have interviewed Linda Williams this day and the statements made during that interview are in total and complete contradiction to the testimony given at the previous trial,” Mr Rion wrote in an affidavit.
Last Friday, a retrial jury in Dayton found Arnold guilty of aggravated murder and will begin deciding today whether she should receive the death penalty.
During Arnold’s first trial, Williams said she had a sexual relationship with Arnold when the two shared a prison cell in March 2007 and that Arnold told her about killing the baby in the microwave because her boyfriend believed he was not the child’s father.
The judge later declared a mistrial, Arnold was retried, and, although Williams did not give evidence a second time, a video of her previous testimony was played in court.
Arnold feared her boyfriend was going to leave her, Williams said at the first trial.
“She said she put the baby into the microwave and started it and left the house,” Williams said.
Williams said she asked Arnold how she got the child into the oven. “She said she fit right in,” Williams said.
The judge has not ruled on Mr Rion’s motion.
