Teen Will Not Be Tried As Adult in Drowning Death of Infant

A judge in Dallas has ruled that a 14-year-old girl won't be tried as an adult in the January drowning death of an infant.

The teenager had faced a life sentence if found guilty as an adult of capital murder in the death of 2-month-old Justice Hull.

But state District Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon following a hearing Friday ruled the teen will be tried as a juvenile. If found responsible for the child’s death she could receive, at most, a 40-year sentence.

The girl has not been identified because of her age.

Justice's mother was in jail so the child was placed in the care of the teen's mother, who was at work when Justice died.

For the first time, NBC 5 heard the 911 call the teen placed on the morning of Jan. 26.

The teen could be heard sobbing but told the dispatcher her address, the name and nature of the call.

At one point, she told dispatchers, “I drowned the baby” and waited on the line until paramedics arrived at the apartment.

The court heard from a child abuse detective with Dallas Police, the teen’s probation officer, four of the teen’s teachers and her mother.

Detective Kimberly Mayfield testified paramedics found Hull face down in a bowl of water.

Mayfield said the teen defendant wrote a brief statement to police which detailed that morning.

She wrote her mother went to work, she ate cereal, then she picked up the sleeping baby and drowned her in a bowl of water before calling 911.

Mayfield testified the teen told police she had been thinking about killing the baby for a while.

Both Mayfield and the probation officer testified the teen had shown no remorse or regret for the death of the child.

The teen’s defense attorney, George Ashwood, called teachers to testify about his client’s good behavior in school and stoic demeanor.

“She did display some emotion today,” said defense attorney George Ashwood. “She was crying a little bit. She had her head down. It was hard to listen to that 911 tape for her and everybody in there.”

Ashwood said he was satisfied with the judge’s decision and a 14-year-old deserves the opportunity for therapy and rehabilitation.

“You know if you send somebody to prison at 14, 15 years old with adult hardened criminals, you know definitely when they get out they are not going to be productive citizens,” said Ashwood. “The juvenile system is really efficient.”

The next court proceeding is scheduled for April 18.