Continual fall out - Judge removes himself from microwave baby case

Dayton, Ohio (AP) - A judge has removed himself from the case of a Dayton woman accused of killing her baby by burning her in a microwave.

Visiting Montgomery County Common Please Court Judge John Kessler on Tuesday filed an order stepping down from the case of China Arnold, who has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder. If convicted, she could face the death penalty.

Kessler cited his retirement and the need to avoid any appearance of being partial as reasons for stepping down.

Kessler declared mistrial on Feb. 11, finding that new defense witnesses bolstered Arnold’s claim of innocence in the death of her daughter, Paris Talley.