Manslaughter conviction in baby death upheld

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota's Supreme Court affirmed the

manslaughter conviction of a 19-year-old woman whose baby died of

organ failure after the infant was starved and dehydrated.

Stevie Buckley is serving five years in prison for the February

2009 death of her six-month-old daughter Kyra. A doctor testified

at Buckley's trial that the child was a "skeleton" when Buckley

brought her to a Bismarck emergency room to check on breathing

problems.

An investigation found no evidence the baby had been fed for

several days. Buckley's apartment had a strong marijuana smell and

empty bottles of whiskey, vodka and rum.

Buckley argued she wasn't aware her baby was at risk of dying,

and that jurors shouldn't have heard about her marijuana use.

The Supreme Court rejected Buckley's arguments.

Tags: news, crime, manslaughter, bismarck