Baby cut from womb healthy as kidnapper in court

A FOUR-DAY-OLD girl who was cut from her strangled mother’s womb was in “remarkably good” condition yesterday, a hospital spokeswoman said, and the alleged attacker faced an initial court appearance.

Lisa Montgomery, of Melvern, Kansas, was set to appear yesterday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Kansas City, Missouri, before Chief Magistrate Judge John Maughmer. A spokesman for US Attorney Todd Graves said the magistrate would read the charge kidnapping resulting in death and possibly appoint a lawyer for Montgomery and schedule an arraignment.

The possibility of a separate federal proceeding in Kansas City put in question the precise timing of Montgomery's court appearance in Missouri, Mr Graves's office said later. The Kansas proceeding, an identity hearing, would take place first but had not been scheduled by late morning. Montgomery had the right to waive the proceeding.