Mexico baby death trial reveals growing persecution of women who miscarry

[Judi Lynn]

Dafne McPherson was convicted of murder after her baby died during childbirth – part of a growing trend to criminalise women in conservative parts of the country

David Agren in San Juan del Río@el_reportero
Wednesday 8 November 2017 03.00 EST

The day that Dafne McPherson’s life came apart began like any other: she dropped her seven-year-old daughter Lia at school, then started her shift in the children’s clothing section of the Liverpool department store in the central Mexican city of San Juan del Río.

At around 5pm, she felt a sharp abdominal cramp and spoke to the store nurse, who told her nothing was amiss. But shortly afterwards, in the second-floor bathroom, McPherson went into labour. She says she hadn’t even realised that she was pregnant.

McPherson is currently serving a 16-year sentence after she was convicted of homicide for the death of her baby in what she says was a miscarriage.

Her case gained national notoriety when court videos surfaced in which the prosecutor described McPherson’s alleged actions as something “not even a dog would do”.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/08/mexico-miscarriage-trial-perscution-women-abortion

Editorials and other articles:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016196019

[Laffy Kat]

1. This makes me want to riot. nt