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McKINNEY, Texas - Jurors deadlocked, forcing a mistrial, in the murder trial of a mother accused of cutting off her infant daughter's arms, then listening to a hymn while her daughter bled in a crib.

Ten jurors believed Dena Schlosser was not guilty by reason of insanity, while one believed she was guilty and another could not decide, said juror Steve Penn.

Defense Attorney David Haynes said the case likely will be tried again, although prosecutors would not say whether they planned to return to court.

Police found baby Margaret, known as Maggie, dying in her crib in November 2004, and Schlosser covered in blood, holding a knife and listening to a church hymn. The trial centered on whether Schlosser, 37, knew right from wrong during the killing, a legal criterion of the insanity defense in Texas.

The prosecution, which showed grisly photos of the dead baby, emphasized witness observations of Schlosser as a healthy, seemingly sane mother and said she showed remorse when she told her husband in a monotone voice that she had "hurt the baby."

But psychiatrists testifying for the defense told jurors of Schlosser's multiple psychotic episodes. One doctor said Schlosser told him she felt commanded by God to cut off Maggie's arms, followed by her own limbs and head. Schlosser had a deep cut on her shoulder when police found her.



for rest of article.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060226/ap_ ... NlYwM3MTg-



So should she have been found guilty? Should her husband be found at fault here?

here's the monster

Attached files

LC, do you think she was mentally unstable?

It's horrible that this was done to a innocent baby, but was the mom impaired?

crazier than hell. but legally insane? the definitions are different. .....The trial centered on whether Schlosser, 37, knew right from wrong during the killing, a legal criterion of the insanity defense in Texas........

oh ok.

What about the husband, do you think he could of prevented this, if he had seeked help for his wife?

I know stupid questions, but your field is crime so I would like to hear your opinion.

your questions are NOT stupid!! ...i don't know enough about her husband to answer, but i always felt andrea yates' husband was responsible, he knew she was batshit and not to leave her alone with the kids.

Dr. William Reid had testified that people close to Schlosser had missed obvious signs of severe mental illness.

John Schlosser said he wasn't alarmed when his wife said after church the day before the killing that she wanted to "give the baby to God." He said she appeared normal after he calmed her down, and he thought her mental condition had improved over the past few months.

Sorry bout the stupid comment.

I'm look around and see if I can find anymore on this case. I remeber reading about it when the event first occured.