What to Know
- Ashleigh Wade is on trial in the 2015 murder of pregnant friend Angelikque Sutton, who was due in days when she was stabbed to death
- Wade allegedly cut Sutton's baby from the womb; the baby, named Jenasis, survived
- A juror fainted Thursday while hearing and seeing evidence that included graphic testimony and photos of the mutilated pregnant woman
A juror fainted during Bronx murder trial evidence that included graphic testimony and photos of a mutilated pregnant woman.
The medical examiner's office was on the stand Thursday giving graphic testimony of the 2015 killing of 8 1/2-months-pregnant Angelikque Sutton, whose child was cut from her sliced-up belly, allegedly by friend Ashleigh Wade.
A spokesman for the Bronx district attorney's office says the testimony included disturbing photos of Sutton's remains. A female juror fainted; the forensic pathologist from the medical examiner's office who had been testifying went over to check on her vitals. An ambulance was called.
Justice Margaret Clancy cleared the courtroom, then adjourned the trial. The fainted juror was taken to a local hospital and released. The pathologist is expected to resume testimony in the case Friday.
Ashleigh Wade faces charges of murder and other crimes for allegedly stabbing Sutton to death and cutting the baby from her womb.
According to court papers, Wade told police she had "rescued" the baby, named Jenasis, who survived.
Defense attorney Amy Attias has said Wade did not "intentionally" kill Sutton but something may have gone "horribly" wrong with her mind.
Sutton and Wade were friends in fifth grade who had recently reconnected on Facebook and had met for lunch and gone shopping for baby products together, Wade told investigators at the time.
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She said they got into a fight about the past and Sutton attacked her, sources told News 4 at the time. Wade said she grabbed the knife away from Sutton and began stabbing her. It was only after she realized the pregnant woman was dead that she cut her open to try to save the baby, she said, according to sources.
Sutton was 12 days from her due date when she was killed.
