MCKNIGHT'S DRUG USE REQUIRED CARE, NOT AN UNPROVEN CONVICTION

On May 17, Regina McKnight was convicted of homicide by child abuse for
using crack cocaine while pregnant.

She was sentenced to 12 years in prison even though Dr. Edward Proctor
concluded only that the drug use could have contributed to the baby's death.

Dr. Sandra Conradi, a pathologist who reviewed the autopsy, concluded that
she was unable to determine the cause of death.

Even though two professionals were unable to determine the exact cause of
death, the jury found McKnight guilty.

I believe that her defense did not do its job and the jury missed some very
key issues.

I also believe that the judge was wrong with the sentence that was handed out.

I want you to know that I am not in favor of any drug use; I am totally
against it. I also believe that when a person is addicted to drugs it is
very hard for them to stop using it.

I do not believe that McKnight intended to harm her baby, she is just a
very sick person addicted to drugs who should have been treated medically.
She probably did not even know that it could harm her baby.

I am sure that you could tell many drug users that it is harmful for the
baby when they are pregnant, but will they remember in their condition, and
could they stop?

What about the pregnant women who are pregnant with a healthy baby who
decide to have a late-term abortion?

These woman know they're going to kill the baby, and can control what
they're doing.

Why aren't they convicted of murder? They are definitely more guilty of
murder than Regina was. They kill their babies; it wasn't proven that
Regina killed hers.

I really believe that something was missed here.

The writer lives in Murrells Inlet.