Deliberations Resume in Day Care Fire Trial

By: Associated Press

Posted: Tue 9:22 AM, Nov 20, 2012

HOUSTON -- Jurors have begun a second day of deliberations to decide the sentence for a Houston woman convicted of murder after a 2011 fire at her home day care killed four children.

Jurors deliberated for 5½ hours Monday in the punishment phase of the trial of Jessica Tata. They resumed deliberations Tuesday morning.

Tata is facing up to life in prison. She was convicted last week of felony murder in the death of 16-month-old Elias Castillo, whom she left at home with six other children while she went shopping. A pan of oil on a stove top burner fueled the blaze.

Prosecutors asked jurors to sentence Tata to life in prison.

Defense attorneys say Tata is a good person who made a terrible mistake. Prosecutors call her irresponsible.

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Deliberations Resume in Day Care Fire Trial

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