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Children Not Stolen

February 26, 2008 permalink

For the second time in a month we report on Toronto Children's Aid doing it right. A baby, Xin Lei Huang, was found dead in her home and the two other children were left with their father. The facts in the story indicate nothing more serious than crib death, but police have charged the mother, Xiu Zheng, with homicide.

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Toronto police
Police stand in front of the house on Manning Avenue, near Queen and Bathurst Streets, after the baby was found unconscious on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008.

Mother charged in baby girl's murder in Toronto

Updated Sun. Feb. 24 2008 6:23 PM ET, toronto.ctv.ca

A newborn baby girl is Toronto's latest homicide victim and her mother has been charged with the murder.

Police were called to an address on Manning Avenue, near Queen and Bathurst Streets, after the baby was found not breathing and unconscious Saturday night.

The baby, identified as Xin Lei Huang, was discovered by her father who came home around 9 p.m. He was preparing dinner and decided to check up on his daughter because it was about time to feed her. When he found her unconscious, he called 911.

Emergency officials said the baby was already dead when they arrived on scene.

She was 40 days old.

Det. Sgt. Gary Grinton told CTV.ca on Sunday that two older siblings and the baby's father were at home when the 911 call was made.

The siblings have not been taken into protective custody. They are staying with the father who is "absolutely not" a suspect, Grinton said.

Grinton wouldn't say if any obvious signs of trauma were found on the baby.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning to officially determine the cause of death.

Friends of the family stopped by when they noticed they didn't come to church on Sunday the way they usually do.

Xiu Zheng, 38, has been charged with second-degree murder. She made a court appearance Sunday morning and was remanded in custody.

The baby is Toronto's ninth homicide.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney

Source: CTV

Addendum: The first set of pathologists could not find the cause of death. Will they send the case to the successor of Dr Charles Smith for a sure-fire finding of homicide?

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February 26, 2008

Baby's murder: 'The facts ... will disgust you'

By TAMARA CHERRY, SUN MEDIA

In a case shrouded by unanswered questions, there was one thing the lead homicide detective would say about a 40-day-old girl allegedly killed at the hands of her mother.

"When the facts come out, they'll disgust you," Toronto Police Det.-Sgt. Gary Grinton said yesterday.

Results of an autopsy done yesterday on the tiny body of Xin Lei Huang concluded her cause of death requires further forensic testing, which is not out of the ordinary when dealing with youngsters.

"The cause of death is not often really apparent, so if you have a theory, then you have to kind of rule everything else out," Grinton said.

By the time paramedics responded to a "baby-not-breathing" call at the downtown Manning Ave. home where Huang lived with her parents and two older sisters Saturday night, her body was already cold, Grinton said.

Within hours, "evidence was uncovered" by officers in the local police division that led homicide detectivies to charge 38-year-old Xiu Zheng with second-degree murder.

Grinton was "pretty sure (a charge of infanticide) would not be" an option for a plea bargain in this case.

Under the Criminal Code, the lesser charge of infanticide applies to mothers who kill their unborn children, "if at the time of the act or omission she is not fully recovered from the effects of giving birth to the child and by reason thereof or of the effect of lactation ... her mind is then disturbed."

While murder convictions carry life sentences, infanticide means a maximum of five years behind bars.

Zheng made a brief appearance at Old City Hall courts on Sunday and was remanded until next month. Her two surviving daughters, ages 4 and 11, remain with their father.

Source: Toronto Sun

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