History Recap / LawAndOrderS10E12MothersMilk

* TeenPregnancy: Amy Beltran is only 18 years old and was 17 when she got pregnantd

Jimmy and Amy Beltran have mysteriously deserted their apartment; blood stains are found in the bathroom. This causes concern for the welfare of their baby son Kyle. His body is eventually found in the back yard of Jimmy's parents' home; he had starved to death. Amy had been struggling to breastfeed and visited a lactation specialist for a short time. Traces of blood on Kyle's body prove that Amy bled on him after he was already dead.

In the absence of enough evidence for a joint case, Abbie decides to try Amy alone despite it being politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defense prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started. Jimmy testifies he had come home to find Kyle dead and argued with Amy; he punched her, causing the blood. The defense portrays him as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a bully who intimidated Amy so she did not dare to bottle-feed. [=McCoy=] steps in to offer a plea deal so Abbie can save face, but Amy's lawyer refuses to negotiate.

Abbie expresses disbelief that any mother who saw her child in the malnourished state the autopsy photos show could fail to notice he was starving to death. She argues that the law that protects a woman's right to end a pregnancy also requires that they accept responsibility if they choose to have the baby. The judge concurs and finds Amy guilty of second degree manslaughter. Abbie is dissatisfied that the Beltrans will serve at most three years of jail between them, but [=McCoy=] points out that she won the case and wishes her better luck tomorrow.

In the absence of enough evidence for a joint case, Abbie decides to try Amy alone despite it being be politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defense prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started. Jimmy testifies he had come home to find Kyle dead and argued with Amy; he punched her, causing the blood. The defense portrays him as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a bully who intimidated Amy so she did not dare to bottle-feed. [=McCoy=] steps in to offer a plea deal so Abbie can save face, but Amy's lawyer refuses to negotiate.

In the absence of enough evidence for a joint case, Abbie decides to try Amy alone and cut a deal with Jimmy Beltran, even though it would be politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defense prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started. Jimmy testifies he had come home to find Kyle dead and argued with Amy; he punched her, causing the blood. The defense portrays Jimmy as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a bully who intimidated Amy so she did not dare to bottle-feed. [=McCoy=] steps in to offer a plea deal so Abbie can save face, but Amy's lawyer refuses to negotiate.

* TeenPregnancy: Amy Beltran is only 18 years old and was 17 when she got pregnant.

Jimmy and Amy Beltran have mysteriously deserted their apartment; blood stains are found in the bathroom. This causes concern for the welfare of their baby son Kyle. Jimmy and Amy had split up shortly before deserting the property, and each claims that Kyle is supposed to be with the other. Kyle's body is eventually found in the back yard of Jimmy's parents' home; he had starved to death. Amy had been struggling to breastfeed and visited a lactation specialist for a short time. Traces of blood on Kyle's body prove that Amy bled on him after he was already dead.

[=McCoy=] doesn't have enough evidence for a joint case. Abbie decides to try Amy alone and cut a deal with Jimmy Beltran, even though it would be politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defense prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started. Jimmy testifies that Amy was feeling isolated and didn't know how to cope with a baby. He had come home from work and found Kyle dead in his crib; they had a violent argument, and he punched Amy, injuring her and causing the blood. The defense portrays Jimmy as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a breastfeeding-obsessed bully who intimidated Amy into not even trying to bottle-feed. [=McCoy=] steps in to offer a plea deal so Abbie can save face, but Amy's lawyer refuses to negotiate.

In her closing statement, Abbie expresses disbelief that any mother who saw her child in the malnourished state the autopsy photos show could fail to notice he was starving to death. She argues that the law that protects a woman's right to end a pregnancy also requires that they accept responsibility if they choose to have the baby. The judge decides that although in an ideal world both Jimmy and the lactation specialist would also be on trial, the ultimate responsibility for a baby's welfare rests with the primary caregiver: the mother. She finds Amy guilty of second degree manslaughter. Abbie is dissatisfied that the Beltrans will serve at most three years of jail between them, but [=McCoy=] points out that she won the case and wishes her better luck tomorrow.

[=McCoy=] doesn't have enough evidence for a joint case. Abbie decides to try Amy alone and cut a deal with Jimmy Beltran, even though it would be politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defence prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started. Jimmy testifies that Amy was feeling isolated and didn't know how to cope with a baby. He had come home from work and found Kyle dead in his crib; they had a violent argument, and he punched Amy, injuring her and causing the blood. The defense portrays Jimmy as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a breastfeeding-obsessed bully who intimidated Amy into not even trying to bottle-feed. [=McCoy=] steps in to offer a plea deal so Abbie can save face, but Amy's lawyer refuses to negotiate.

Jimmy and Amy Beltran have mysteriously deserted their apartment; blood stains are found in the bathroom. This causes concern for the welfare of their baby son kyle. Jimmy and Amy had split up shortly before deserting the property, and each claims that Kyle is supposed to be with the other. Kyle's body is eventually found in the back yard of Jimmy's parents' home; he had starved to death. Amy had been struggling to breastfeed and visited a lactation specialist for a short time. Traces of blood on Kyle's body prove that Amy bled on him after he was already dead.

Jimmy and Amy Beltran have mysteriously deserted their apartment; blood stains are found in the bathroom. The Beltrans were known to be in a violent marriage, leading to suspicions they may have harmed their baby son Kyle. Jimmy and Amy had split up shortly before deserting the property, and each claims that Kyle is supposed to be with the other. Kyle's body is eventually found in the back yard of Jimmy's parents' home; he had starved to death. Amy had been struggling to breastfeed and visited a lactation specialist for a short time. Traces of blood on Kyle's body prove that Amy bled on him after he was already dead.

[=McCoy=] doesn't have enough evidence for a joint case; if the Beltrans are tried separately, each will blame the other, and the jury will be forced to acquit on grounds of reasonable doubt. Abbie decides to try Amy alone and cut a deal with Jimmy Beltran, even though it would be politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defence prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started. Jimmy testifies that Amy was feeling isolated and didn't know how to cope with a baby. He had come home from work and found Kyle dead in his crib; they had a violent argument, and he punched Amy, injuring her and causing the blood stains in the bathroom. The defense portrays Jimmy as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a breastfeeding-obsessed bully who intimidated Amy into not even trying to bottle-feed. [=McCoy=] steps in to offer a plea deal so Abbie can save face, but Amy's lawyer refuses to negotiate.

Jimmy and Amy Beltran have mysteriously deserted their apartment; blood stains are found in the bathroom. The Beltrans were known to be in a violent marriage, leading to suspicions they may have harmed their baby son Kyle. Jimmy and Amy had split up shortly before deserting the property, and each claims that Kyle is supposed to be with the other. Kyle's body is eventually found in the back yard of Jimmy's parents' home. Traces of blood on Kyle's body prove that Amy bled on him after he was already dead. She had been struggling to breastfeed and visited a lactation specialist for a short time.

Jimmy and Amy Beltran have mysteriously deserted their apartment; blood stains are found in the bathroom. The Beltrans were known to be in a violent marriage, leading to suspicions they may have harmed their baby son Kyle. Jimmy and Amy had split up shortly before deserting the property, and each claims that Kyle is supposed to be with the other. Kyle's body is eventually found in the back yard of Jimmy's parents' home. Traces of blood on Kyle's body prove that Amy bled on him after he was already dead. She had been struggling to breastfeed and visited a lactation specialist for a short time. [=McCoy=] doesn't have enough evidence for a joint case; if the Beltrans are tried separately, each will blame the other, and the jury will be forced to acquit on grounds of reasonable doubt. Abbie decides to try Amy alone and cut a deal with Jimmy Beltran, even though it would be politically contentious to hold only the mother responsible. The case turns into a bench trial when the defence prejudices the jury by showing them autopsy photos before the evidence has started.

Jimmy testifies that Amy was feeling isolated and didn't know how to cope with a baby. He had come home from work and found Kyle dead in his crib; they had a violent argument, and he punched Amy, injuring her and causing the blood stains in the bathroom. The defense portrays Jimmy as a neglectful father and the lactation specialist as a breastfeeding-obsessed bully who intimidated Amy into not even trying to bottle-feed. [=McCoy=] steps in to offer a plea deal so Abbie can save face, but Amy's lawyer refuses to negotiate. In her closing statement, Abbie expresses disbelief that any mother who saw her child in the malnourished state the autopsy photos show could fail to notice he was starving to death. She argues that the law that protects a woman's right to end a pregnancy also requires that they accept responsibility if they choose to have the baby. The judge decides that although in an ideal world both Jimmy and the lactation specialist would also be on trial, the ultimate responsibility for a baby's welfare rests with the primary caregiver: the mother. She finds Amy guilty of second degree manslaughter. Abbie is dissatisfied that the Beltrans will serve at most three years of jail between them, but [=McCoy=] points out that she won the case and wishes her better luck tomorrow.