MOTHER CONVICTED IN BABY'S DEATH

An Oklahoma City woman was convicted of second-degree murder and
sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday. She also was convicted of
unlawful removal of the dead and sentenced to 20 years on that charge.

An Oklahoma County jury deliberated nearly five hours before returning
a guilty verdict against Carla Renee Quillen, 34.

Prosecutors sought a conviction of first-degree murder against
Quillen, who admitted she didn't seek medical attention because she
feared authorities would take her baby away.

Quillen testified Thursday that she was addicted to cocaine at the
time of the baby's birth.

She said she gave birth to the baby on the floor of a friend's house,
cut the umbilical cord with a knife and tried to clamp it with a hair
barrette.

Assistant District Attorney Pattye High said Quillen stood by as the
baby, named Justice, bled to death through his umbilical cord.

"Is it an OK choice to say, 'Well I don't want them to take my baby,
so I'm going to let my baby die?'" High asked during her closing
argument. "There is no legal excuse for crack addicts who choose to
have children and, to avoid detection, let their children die."

Quillen's attorney said his client didn't mean for her son to die and
didn't know the baby's health was deteriorating.

"My client is not a bad person," defense attorney David Slane said.
"She was a mother who had a bad drug habit and made some bad decisions."

Slane said Quillen was a confused, grief-stricken mother and implored
jurors that if they were to find Quillen guilty, they should find her
guilty of a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter.

High said jurors should not find sympathy for Quillen.