Murder Charges Dropped Against Georgia Woman Who Took Abortion Pills

In this May 23, 2015 photo released by the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office, Kenlissia Jones, 23, poses for a booking photo. Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards issued a statement saying he had dismissed... In this May 23, 2015 photo released by the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office, Kenlissia Jones, 23, poses for a booking photo. Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards issued a statement saying he had dismissed a malice murder charge against Jones, who was released from jail after about three days in confinement. Abortion-rights advocates and opponents of abortion alike had said they were stunned by the murder charge. Georgia has prohibited the prosecution of women for feticide or for performing illegal abortions in cases involving their own pregnancies. (Dougherty County Sheriff's Office via AP) MORE LESS
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Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against a Georgia woman who took abortion pills in an apparent attempt to terminate her pregnancy, the Washington Post is reporting. Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards said the termination was still illegal, but that Georgia law does not apply to the woman herself, 23-year-old Kenlissia Jones of Albany, Georgia.

“Although third parties could be criminally prosecuted for their actions relating to an illegal abortion, as the law currently stands in Georgia, criminal prosecution of a pregnant woman for her own actions against her unborn child does not seem permitted,” Edwards told the Washington Post. “Applicable criminal law and statutes provide explicit immunity from prosecution for a pregnant woman for any unlawful termination of her pregnancy.”

Police arrested Jones Saturday after a hospital social worker called the cops when Jones, reportedly 5½ months pregnant, delivered the fetus in the car on the way to the hospital, according to police reports cited by the AP. Jones was charged with malice murder and possession of a dangerous drug. The hospital social worker said a break-up with her boyfriend had prompted Jones to take the four abortion pills, which she had purchased on the Internet.

Georgia law says that abortions after the first trimester must take place in a licensed hospital, in a licensed ambulatory surgical center, or in a health facility licensed as an abortion facility by the Department of Community Health, according to WALB-TV.

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