TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas mother whose 2-year-old son fatally shot his 4-year-old sister has been sentenced to life in prison.
24-year-old Mariann Belair won’t be eligible for parole until she’s served 25 years under the sentence imposed Tuesday.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that jurors found her guilty in May of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony and aggravated child endangerment.
Belair testified at her trial that she removed a loaded handgun from her diaper bag in October and placed it on the couch.
She said the 4-year-old then “distracted” her by asking her to shoot a cellphone photo of them together. Prosecutors said the gun sat on the couch about 12 minutes before the 2-year-old shot his sister.
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