Death call for US womb murderer

A US jury has decided that a woman convicted of killing an expectant mother and cutting her baby from her womb should be sentenced…

A US jury has decided that a woman convicted of killing an expectant mother and cutting her baby from her womb should be sentenced to death.

Jurors in Missouri deliberated for more than five hours yesterday before recommending the death sentence for Lisa Montgomery.

Judge Gary Fenner had told jurors he was obliged to abide by their recommendation.

A sentencing date has not been set.

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Montgomery, 39, was convicted on Monday of kidnapping and killing Bobbie Jo Stinnett on December 16, 2004, in the victim's home.

She was arrested the next day in Kansas, where she was showing off the newborn as her own.

Prosecutors argued that Stinnett's killing and mutilation is the kind of crime for which capital punishment is intended.

Showing jurors photos of the bloody crime scene, the prosecution told jurors on Thursday that Montgomery deserves to die because of the heinousness of her crime, and because computer evidence - including internet searches on performing Caesareans - shows the crime was premeditated.

Defence attorney Fred Duchardt, who claims sexual abuse during Montgomery's childhood led to mental illness, asked the jury to spare his client's life.

Prosecutors claimed Montgomery was faking mental illness to aid her defence.