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Criminal Law keyed to Dripps
Biddle v. Commonwealth
Facts
After Shirley Mae Biddle (Defendant) killed her baby, she was charged with first-degree murder. Evidence showed that her baby was malnourished and dehydrates at the time of her death, despite Defendant’s house having plenty of food. Another small child was found lying on newspapers with a wet and dirty diaper as well as a rash on her buttocks. Although Defendant’s baby was born weighing 5 pounds and 8 ounces, the baby weight 4 pounds and 5 one-half ounces. At trial, Defendant claimed that she fed her baby every day, but her baby would not drink it all. Defendant also claimed that her baby never cried when she was hungry. Defendant further claimed that she loved her baby and treated her the same way as her other children. Defendant’s husband claimed that Defendant’s children, including the dead baby, were from other men. After Defendant was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison, Defendant appealed.
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