I don't quite get this one. "born at home about 19 weeks premature", that would mean about 21 weeks gestational age, right?
When my twin granddaughters were born prematurely at 22 weeks, we were told that there was nothing that could be done to save them, their lungs were not developed enough.
Average weight at 21 weeks is 12.70 oz. How could this little one have survived? And, how could it be proven that the baby was born alive?
"CENTRALIA, Wash. — A 25-year-old woman accused of decapitating her live, prematurely born infant son with a kitchen knife faced first-degree murder charges on Thursday during an initial court appearance.
Laura Lynn Hickey of Centralia, who had three previous children removed from her custody by the state, appeared before Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey in the town of Chehalis, about 90 miles south of Seattle, and was ordered held on $1 million bail.
Centralia Police Department spokesman John Panco said investigators determined that Hickey's infant son was alive when born at home about 19 weeks premature but suffered "fatal injuries that were intentionally inflicted."
Panco told Reuters the newborn was decapitated with a knife "commonly used in the kitchen."
Paramedics were called to Hickey's residence after neighbors heard her cry out for help in the early morning hours of March 2. Hickey was taken to Centralia Providence Hospital, where she told doctors that she had suffered a miscarriage..."
More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42005999/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/