Witness in trial of woman who microwaved baby recants

Lawyers for an American woman convicted of microwaving her baby daughter asked for a new trial yesterday, saying a former cellmate who previously testified that their client confessed had changed her story.

Lawyer Jon Paul Rion said Linda Williams, who testified during China Arnold's first trial, contacted him and told him she was "ready to tell the truth".

Williams had testified that she and Arnold had a sexual relationship when they shared a cell in March 2007 and that Arnold said she killed the baby in the microwave because her boyfriend believed he wasn't the father. The judge later declared a mistrial.

At her second trial an Ohio jury last week found Arnold guilty of aggravated murder and today will begin deciding if she should receive the death penalty.