Trial opens in murder, kidnapping-from-womb case

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A defense attorney for a Pittsburgh-area woman accused of cutting a baby from the womb of a pregnant teenager and passing it off as her own says she was incapable of knowing what she did was wrong.

Defense attorney Christopher Patarini will try to convince an Allegheny County judge that 40-year-old Andrea Curry-Demus is not guilty by reason of insanity in the July 2008 death of 18-year-old Kia Johnson.

Prosecutor Mark Tranquilli acknowledges that Curry-Demus has problems but said during opening statements today that she plotted to take Johnson’s baby for several days after meeting her at the Allegheny County Jail.

Tranquilli says Curry-Demus knew the difference between right and wrong and ingratiated herself with Johnson so she could take her baby.

The child survived the attack.