How Africa News
The lawyer for a pregnant Florida woman who has been imprisoned while awaiting her murder trial is claiming that his client should be given bail because her fetus is innocent and her confinement is harming her unborn child.
According to the Daily Mail, Natalia Harrell was arrested and charged in Florida in connection with the July 2022 shooting death of 28-year-old Yvette Borcela. At the time of the fatal occurrence, the 24-year-old suspect was six weeks pregnant.
Harrell is accused of fatally shooting Borcela while they were riding in an Uber with a group of individuals with whom they had previously spent time. During a dispute, the defendant allegedly opened fire on the victim. Prior to the shooting, the men, along with Harrell and Borcela, had gone to a bar.
Following the event, the suspect was apprehended and imprisoned at Miami’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Complex. However, Harrell’s lawyer, William M. Norris, requested bail for his client in court documents on Thursday, alleging that the custody of the suspect’s unborn child was unconstitutional.
“UNBORN CHILD has not been charged with any crime by the State,” Norris stated in the writ of habeas corpus. “Further, the State has placed the UNBORN CHILD in such inherently dangerous environment by placing the UNBORN CHILD in close proximity to violent criminal offenders.”
Norris further claimed that the rights of the unborn child are guaranteed by the US and Florida constitutions, and that the fetus’ “draconian imprisonment” violated both statutes. According to the lawyer, Harrell’s ongoing detention is endangering her unborn kid by depriving it access to vitamins and specialists.
According to The Miami Herald, Norris also argued that releasing the fetus from “unlawful and illegal imprisonment” was the correct thing to do because it would avoid the infant from being born in a dangerous environment. According to the Daily Mail, Norris also claims that Harrell opened fire on the victim because she was concerned about the safety of her infant after Borcela charged at her during the dispute. Nonetheless, the victim’s mother resorted to Facebook to express her anger with the bail appeal.
“Natalia Harrell Killed My Daughter,” the victim’s mother shared. “And Now Is Trying To Get A Get Out Of Jail Free Card. Where Is The Justice In Miami Florida Dade County
I Will Not Fall I Will Not Fail Till This Is Resolved #JusticeForGigi.”
Borcela is alleged to have been invited to the pub by Harrell’s acquaintance. Nonetheless, Harrell was apparently irritated by the victim’s actions while they were hanging out with the males. After leaving the bar with the males and boarding the Uber, the two women got into an argument.
During the altercation, Harrell allegedly told Borcela, “You don’t want this; you don’t want me to go in my purse.”
The suspect then shot Borcela before the car stopped. The passengers then fled the scene, and Borcela was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
