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Queens Murder Sparks Abortion Rights Debate
By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 9, 2009
Modified Dec 9, 2009
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By
Ben Muessig
Published Dec 9, 2009
Modified Dec 9, 2009
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A Queens mother is furious that the man suspected of killing her pregnant daughter isn't being charged for the death of the woman's unborn fetus — and she's pushing for a new law that pro-choice activists fear might infringe upon abortion rights.
According to the Daily News, 36-year-old Derrick Redd faces a murder charge for allegedly stabbing his pregnant 25-year-old girlfriend Niasha Delain six times in the stomach because she refused to have an abortion. The victim's mother, Towanda Wimms, wants state lawmakers to charge him with a crime against the unborn fetus, who would have been named Aidan had he been born. "It's like this baby is not being looked at as a victim and that's ridiculous," said Wimms. "There were two victims here. This baby was intentionally stabbed."
Wimms has sided with pro-life groups in an Albany debate over a bill that would charge those who kill a pregnant woman with two murders. Pro-choice groups say they want to see harsher penalties against those who commit crimes against pregnant women, but they think the bill could be a way for anti-abortion activists to establish "fetal rights" — which could be used to attempt to establish a legal precedent against abortion. Pro-life groups say the bill is carefully worded so it doesn't infringe on abortion rights and specifically prohibits the prosecution of abortion providers.
Tagged
abortion
abortion rights
debate
Derrick Redd
fetus
murder
Niasha Delain
Towanda Wimms
Ben Muessig
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