Judge Revisits Banita Jacks' Insanity Waiver
Sentencing for woman convicted of killing four daughters postponed
Updated 3:00 PM EDT, Fri, Oct 16, 2009
WASHINGTON -- A judge will consider whether a D.C. woman convicted of killing her four daughters and living with their decomposing bodies was improperly allowed to waive her insanity defense.
Banita Jacks faces life in prison and was supposed to have been sentenced Friday, but Judge Frederick H. Weisberg said he could not proceed with sentencing because of questions her defense raised.
Defense lawyers are asking the judge to appoint an independent counsel to investigate Jacks' refusal to use an insanity defense.
The judge questioned the attorneys on Friday but is giving prosecutors time to add to their response. Another hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.
U.S. marshals discovered the bodies of Jacks' daughters -- ages 5 to 16 -- in January 2008 when they went to evict her.
Copyright Associated Press
First Published: Oct 16, 2009 1:55 PM EDT
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