Israeli allegedly repeatedly choked baby

JERUSALEM, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A young Israeli mother has been charged with five times attempting to kill her 8-month-old baby boy.

The 20-year-old woman, who also has an 18-month-old child, was indicted Thursday in Petah Tikva's District Court, reported The Jerusalem Post.

She has reportedly confessed to the string of strangulation attempts and was sent for psychiatric evaluation, which found her fit to stand trial. The prosecution maintains it will bring testimony from the grandmother and a hospital security guard to whom the mother allegedly said she intended to kill her son.

The first alleged strangulation attempt occurred in June, with the woman choking the baby until it was blue in the face then calling a family member for assistance. The latest alleged attack came while the baby was hospitalized with the mother holding his head under water until he stopped breathing, then calling a doctor.