Man charged with murder after tricking girlfriend into taking abortion drug
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Man charged with murder after tricking girlfriend into taking abortion drug
(CBS/WTSP/AP) TAMPA--John Andrew Welden, a 28-year-old son of a Tampa fertility doctor, was charged with first degree murder on Tuesday for allegedly tricking his girlfriend into taking the abortion drug that killed her unborn fetus, according to CBS affiliate WTSP.
According to prosecutors, Welden forged his father's signature on a prescription for Cytotec after a March ultrasound at his father's practice confirmed the pregnancy. Welden allegedly relabeled the pill bottle as "Amoxicillin" and told his girlfriend to take the antibiotic.
The federal indictment stated Welden "...intentionally attempted to kill and did kill, the unborn child," reported WTSP.
Dr. Stephen Welden has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Defense attorneys said John Welden's actions were "aberrant" but they pointed out that he has no criminal history.
According to WTSP, Welden was a pre-med student at the University of South Florida.
He was denied bail on Wednesday and could face up to life in prison if convicted.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_1...d-report-says/
According to prosecutors, Welden forged his father's signature on a prescription for Cytotec after a March ultrasound at his father's practice confirmed the pregnancy. Welden allegedly relabeled the pill bottle as "Amoxicillin" and told his girlfriend to take the antibiotic.
The federal indictment stated Welden "...intentionally attempted to kill and did kill, the unborn child," reported WTSP.
Dr. Stephen Welden has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Defense attorneys said John Welden's actions were "aberrant" but they pointed out that he has no criminal history.
According to WTSP, Welden was a pre-med student at the University of South Florida.
He was denied bail on Wednesday and could face up to life in prison if convicted.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_1...d-report-says/
This is some tricky stuff. Even if the legal status of a fetus isn't technically human, this is still an incredibly heinous crime but I'm not sure if I agree with the charge. There's the discrepancy that it wouldn't even be manslaughter if the woman had taken the pill herself. The most sensible thing to do would be to create a new crime for killing an unborn fetus.
Thoughts?
