Death penalty sought against Caylee’s mother

Death penalty sought against Caylee’s mother

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida prosecutors plan to seek to the death penalty against the mother of slain Florida toddler Caylee Anthony.

Prosecutors filed papers Monday of intent to seek to have 23-year-old Casey Anthony executed if she is convicted of first-degree murder in her daughter’s death, said Danielle Tavernier, a spokeswoman for the State Attorney’s Office in Orlando.

Anthony claims that Caylee, who was 2 when she disappeared in June, was kidnapped and has pleaded innocent. Her trial has been tentatively set for October.

2 die in clash in Thailand

BANGKOK — Anti-government demonstrators vowing a “final stand” unless Thailand’s government resigns fought bloody street battles with troops in the capital, then clashed with residents angry about the disruptions, leaving two people dead.

Troops drove back rampaging protesters with warning shots from automatic weapons, and by nightfall Monday, clashes that had gripped several parts of the city, wounding 113 people, had ebbed. But as the demonstrators tried to make their way back to their base, deadly fighting erupted between them and residents.

Prosecutors: Rape may be alleged in girl’s slaying

SAN FRANCISCO — Prosecutors said Monday they may include rape and molestation allegations in their murder charge against the woman suspected of killing an 8-year-old Northern California girl and putting her body in a suitcase.

Melissa Huckaby, a 28-year-old Sunday school teacher, was arrested Friday on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering Sandra Cantu.

Formal charges have not yet been filed, but San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Robert Himmelblau said a murder charge against Huckaby could include the special circumstances of rape with a foreign object, lewd and lascivious conduct with a child and murder in the course of a kidnapping.

As archbishop, Dolan to fight anti-Catholic bias

NEW YORK — New York Archbishop-designate Timothy Dolan said Monday, on the eve of his installation, that he will challenge the idea that the Roman Catholic Church is unenlightened because it opposes gay marriage and abortion.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Dolan said he wants to restore pride in being Catholic, especially given the damage the church endured in the clergy sex abuse scandal, which he called a continuing source of shame.

He said Catholics also must defend themselves against bias, which he said was still deeply ingrained in American culture.

21 die in Poland shelter fire

KAMIEN POMORSKI, Poland — Survivors of a fire that killed 21 people at a three-story shelter for homeless families in Poland on Monday described a fast-moving inferno that forced some to jump from windows into trees.

Six of the victims were children and another 20 people were injured, most of whom sustained broken bones after leaping from the building to escape the blaze in the northwestern city of Kamien Pomorski.

Phil Spector found guilty

LOS ANGELES — Rock music producer Phil Spector was convicted Monday of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a film actress at his mansion six years ago, a verdict that will send him to prison for at least 18 years barring a successful appeal.

A Superior Court jury returned the verdict after about 30 hours of deliberations. The jury had the option of choosing involuntary manslaughter, but did not do so.

NTSB probes boat wreck

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation of the fatal power boat accident that killed five people and injured nine on Florida’s east coast.

“We are looking at the man, the machine and the environment,” NTSB member Deborah A.P. Hersman said Monday afternoon.

Hersman revealed that there were 14 people in the 22-foot power boat that crashed into the rear of the tug at about 7 p.m. Sunday near Palm Valley in St. Johns County, about 25 miles southeast of Jacksonville.

Court: Franken is leader

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota court confirmed Monday that Democrat Al Franken won the most votes in his 2008 Senate race against Republican Norm Coleman, who had already announced plans to appeal the decision.

Coleman has 10 days to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Once the petition is filed, it could further delay the seating of Minnesota’s second senator for weeks.

Associated Press