An Ohio mother is alleged of stabbing her three-month-old daughter then decapitated her rejected the plea deal in her latest court appearance. She and her defense team are said to be pursuing an insanity defense before the trial starts in Cincinnati.
If and when the court will find the woman not guilty by reason of insanity, she will still be under the jurisdiction of the court for life without the possibility of a parole. It has been found out that she was suffering from post-partum psychosis and was prescribed anti-psychotic medication.
The mother was identified as 21-year-old Deasia Watkins while the daughter was named Jayniah Watkins. She pleaded not guilty before by reason of insanity. The alleged killing took place in March last year.
According to prosecutor Joe Deters, Watkins looked like she was a zombie days after she was arrested. She was in the hospital during that time, CBS reported.
Despite having been suffered from post-partum psychosis, Watkins was evaluated last year after being ordered to have psychiatric treatment. The conclusion revealed that she was found to be competent and fit to stand trial.
The father of her child also noted that she spoke of demons in the past. The baby was under the care of her aunt and it was believed that she went to her aunt's home and killed the baby there.
Watkins was charged with aggravated murder after allegedly fracturing her three-month-old daughter's arm, then stabbed her repeatedly and severed her head from her body, People reported. The lawyer for Watkins, Norman Aubin, said that they have evidence to support their plea of not guilty by reason of insanity but did not give details about the evidence.
Aubin noted that if his client accepted the plea deal, she would have been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. She has been in a state mental hospital for 19 months now so that will be deducted from her supposed sentence. Aubin pointed out that if she will be proven not guilty by reason of insanity, being under the court's jurisdiction for life will be the best deal for her.
