The perfect storm: Family tragedy plays out in court
"Everyone in this courtroom agrees Raelyn Balfour killed Bryce Balfour," said prosecutor Elizabeth Killeen when the three-day trial began January 23. "This little boy's life did not have to end this way on a hospital gurney. That constitutes criminal negligence."
And so began one of Charlottesville's most painful trials– asking whether a mother who makes a fatal mistake has already paid the highest price– or should pay with her freedom.
The prosecution and defense agreed on one thing: the death of nine-month-old Bryce Balfour was not intentional. Where they disagreed was whether his mother, Raelyn Alene Balfour, 36, was guilty of criminal neglect resulting in involuntary manslaughter, which carries up to 10 years in prison.
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Full Stories List for January 31st, 2008 issue #0705
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