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Judge agrees to no jail for dead baby's mother

By JAMAL THALJI
Published September 24, 2006

NEW PORT RICHEY - It took three minutes last week for Pasco County Judge Robert Cole to decide a 29-year-old woman arrested for second-degree murder in the death of her newborn could leave jail without putting up any bail money.

It took two days of testimony this week for Circuit Judge Stanley Mills to make the same decision.

"I believe, as did Judge Cole, that this young lady does not pose a serious threat to the community even given the serious nature of the charges," Mills said Friday.

Christine Jamison gave birth in a Target bathroom Sept. 11, authorities say, then left the infant in the trash. The baby girl was found dead, and though the mother could face life in prison if convicted, two judges have now ruled she won't be jailed pending trial.

Instead, she left the West Pasco Judicial Center surrounded by family, friends and cameras.

Because of the murder charge, prosecutors wanted Mills to jail Jamison in lieu of a high bail, or without bail. The state used Jamison's co-workers at Target to portray her as someone of normal intelligence, and thus capable of fleeing before her trial.

The defense used family and friends to portray Jamison as someone who has struggled to overcome learning disabilities and a mentality far younger than her 29 years.

"Christine's always been slower and simple," family friend Bruce King testified. "You always had to keep an extra eye on her and things."

By making a case of it, however, the state allowed the defense to convince the judge that Jamison can't function without her family, so she isn't a flight risk.

"I think the evidence shows that she may be 29 but her maturity level is a good deal lower than that," Mills said. "I would be surprised if testing did not confirm that."

Frank and Molly Jamison took their daughter home to Hudson, where she wears an electronic monitor and must check with authorities daily. Mills also ordered the defendant not to leave the Pasco-Hernando area without the court's permission.

[Last modified September 24, 2006, 09:17:29]