Maryland to prosecute first fetal homicide case under 2005 state law

Published: 2007-07-05

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- A married Baltimore County man accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend will become the first person prosecuted under Maryland's new fetal homicide law -- a move applauded by a Catholic lobbyist and a medical professional. After a grand jury handed down an indictment on two counts of first-degree murder for David L. Miller, 24, July 3, Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger announced he would personally prosecute the case, along with an assistant state's attorney. Traditionally, state's attorneys in large metropolitan counties spend little if any time in the courtroom. "I decided to handle the Miller case myself because of the important and novel legal issues involved," said Shellenberger, who was elected to his office last year. "This is, to my knowledge, the first murder prosecution for the death of a fetus since the (Maryland) Legislature enacted the statute permitting such prosecutions. Since this is the first prosecution of its kind, I thought it important to handle myself."

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