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CALIFORNIA

Mother beheaded in murder-suicide

LA HABRA — A man cut off his mother’s head with a circular saw and then died trying to decapitate himself, authorities said.

Police answered a 911 report of a family dispute at a home just after 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, entered a locked bedroom and found the body of Guadalupe Ruiz, 60, on a bed, La Habra police spokeswoman Cindy Knapp said.

Arthur Ruiz Jr., 32, was on another bed with the saw nearby. He had died of neck injuries, police said.

It was not clear why Mr. Ruiz attacked his mother, police said.

A child and three other adults were in the three-bedroom home when police arrived. Several families rented rooms in the home, Miss Knapp said.

GEORGIA

Vegan parents sentenced in death

ATLANTA — A vegan couple were sentenced yesterday to life in prison for the death of their malnourished 6-week-old baby boy, who was fed a diet largely consisting of soy milk and apple juice.

Superior Court Judge L.A. McConnell imposed the mandatory sentences on Jade Sanders, 27, and Lamont Thomas, 31. Their son, Crown Shakur, weighed just 31/2 pounds when he died of starvation on April 25, 2004.

The couple were found guilty May 2 of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. A jury deliberated about seven hours before returning the guilty verdicts.

Defense attorneys said the first-time parents did the best they could while adhering to the lifestyle of vegans, who typically use no animal products. They said Sanders and Thomas did not realize the baby, who was born at home, was in danger until minutes before he died.

Prosecutors said the couple intentionally neglected their child and refused to take him to the doctor, even as the baby’s body wasted away.

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