Woman accused of throwing baby out window acquitted after insanity plea

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — A woman accused of throwing her 1-year-old nephew out a second-story window has been acquitted due to mental illness.

The Daily Herald reports that Beteha Kebede on Wednesday pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to second-degree child assault.

A state psychologist testified that Kebede, who has schizophrenia, was too mentally ill to understand what she was doing at the time of the incident.

Her attorney has asked that Kebede be acquitted of the charge based on her mental state and the judge granted the motion. Kebede will continue mental health treatment at a community clinic.

“I'm well aware of the fact that sometimes insanity defenses get used hoping to avoid responsibility, and sometimes insanity defenses get looked at with a jaundiced eye,” said Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Michael Downes. “But it's eminently clear at the time of these acts, Ms. Kebede met the definition of insanity by the state of Washington.”

Police say Kebede told them she threw the boy out the window in Lynnwood July 3, 2014 to prevent someone from killing her or her children. The child suffered a fractured skull and brain bleeding.