Crime & Safety

Report: Judge to Decide Fate of Nicole Beecroft, Accused in 2007 Stabbing of Baby in Oakdale

The case was sent back to Washington County District Court after her 2008 conviction was overturned.

A Washington County District Court judge will rule in the case of Nicole Beecroft, the woman accused of stabbing her infant daughter to death in Oakdale in 2007, according to the Pioneer Press.

At 17, Beecroft was accused of stabbing the child more than 100 times and throwing the girl in a trashcan. She was tried as an adult and sentenced to life in prison without parole on the first-degree premeditated murder charge.

But her 2008 conviction was overturned in the Minnesota Supreme Court due to interference with expert witnesses, and the case was sent back to to Washington County District Court.

Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Judge John Hoffman can take all the time he needs to reach a verdict following the July trial—Beecroft, 24, waived her right to a ruling within seven days and waived her right to a jury trial, the Liz Mohr story in the Pioneer Press says.

Find out what's happening in Oakdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

From the story:

Her defense has centered on her claim that the baby was stillborn. In lieu of verbal closing arguments, attorneys on Tuesday submitted written arguments and proposed court findings. Hoffman will use those in consideration of a verdict.


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