Mother gets life for microwaving baby

DAYTON, Ohio, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- An Ohio woman convicted of killing her baby in a microwave oven was sentenced Monday to life without parole.

China Arnold, 28, was spared the death penalty after a jury was unable to agree on a sentencing verdict last week, the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News reported. She was convicted Aug. 29.

The newspaper reported that a Montgomery County jury had four sentencing options: death, life without the possibility of parole, life with the possibility of parole after 30 years and life with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Under U.S. Supreme Court precedent, a jury must recommend the death penalty before a judge can impose it.

Arnold's attorney, John Paul Rion, has asked for a new trial. He said a former Arnold cell mate who told authorities that confessed to her has changed her story.

It was the second trial for Arnold. Her first trial ended in a mistrial when a new witness came forward.