Mom can be tried for murder by starvation

Published: Nov. 7, 2008 at 11:31 PM

PHILADELPHIA, Tenn., Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A Philadelphia woman whose disabled teenage daughter died of starvation can be tried for first-degree murder, a judge ruled Friday.

Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan refused a motion by Andrea Kelly's lawyer to dismiss the most serious charge, which carries a penalty of death or life in prison, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Jurors would still have the option of convicting Kelly of a lesser charge, including third-degree murder or manslaughter.

Danieal Kelly, who had cerebral palsy, starved to death in 2006 at age 14.

"Frankly, she died looking like she died in Auschwitz -- yes, a concentration camp, here in Philadelphia," Dugan said Friday. "No one stepped up for Danieal Kelly."

A total of nine people face criminal charges. Only one, other than Andrea Kelly, faces a homicide charge.

Dugan ruled that Julius Juma Murray, who worked for a private social services agency and was supposed to be monitoring Danieal's welfare, can be held for trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
NHL: San Jose 4, Vancouver 2 (32 min)
Modest Atlantic hurricane season ends (32 min)
COL BKB: West Virginia 84, Portland 66 (33 min)
NFL: Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 17 (OT)
Nets fire Coach Lawrence Frank
NBA: LA Lakers 106, New Jersey 87
COL BKB: Washington 63, Montana 59
fark
New Zealand church fined for using cell phone jammers so people's phones don't go off during services....
The 40,000 British parents who home-school their children may be required to undergo a criminal...
Woman says a deranged man followed her off the bus and stole her teeth. "He kept thaying how my...
Man arrested running down London street in only his socks, with photo of what a sock might look...
Photoshop this rocket man
New screening system put in place to ease the number of calls received by the Department of Children...