Stuart Silberg, the lead prosecutor, urged the judge to sentence her to life without parole. No more than an infant, a brute or a wild beast.”Prosecutors had argued that Ms. Ortega was angry about her workload and schedule and killed the children to spite their mother. The defense countered that Ms. Ortega suffered from a chronic mental illness and was experiencing a psychotic and dissociative episode when she killed the children. Two psychiatrists for the defense said Ms. Ortega had heard voices, including Satan’s, commanding her to kill herself and the children. Several family members and friends testified that in the weeks before the slaying Ms. Ortega’s behavior had become bizarre.

Source: New York Times May 14, 2018 19:58 UTC