LONG BEACH : Woman Who Threw Sons Off Bridge to Stand Trial
A Long Beach Municipal Court jury ruled Tuesday that a woman accused of killing one of her two young sons when she threw both of them off a bridge is competent to stand trial.
The panel’s decision means that the prosecution of Donna Jean Fleming, on murder and attempted murder charges, will proceed as scheduled.
Fleming is accused of killing 22-month-old Craig Fleming on Feb. 21 and injuring his 3-year-old brother, Michael. She then jumped off the Ocean Boulevard bridge and into the Los Angeles River after them.
Lifeguards and paramedics plucked Fleming and the older boy from the chilly water, but the toddler drowned. The older child is now in the custody of his father.
Fleming, 24, is scheduled to be arraigned today.
The defendant’s attorney had argued that his client was incapable of assisting in her defense and therefore should not stand trial.
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