No decision on pregnant woman attack trial venue

<p>Woman accused of cutting a baby from its mother's womb wants her trial moved from Boulder County.</p>

By: Deb Stanley

The nurse's aide accused of luring a pregnant woman to her home, then cutting the victim's unborn baby from her womb and leaving her for dead, wants her trial moved from Boulder County.

Lawyers for Dynel Lane filed a motion last month for a change of venue in the February trial.

Dynel Lane has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, unlawful termination of a pregnancy and multiple counts of felony assault.

Multiple witnesses, including officers and hospital staff, testified about the hours after following the alleged crimes. The judge said a decision wouldn't be made Tuesday.

Defense attorneys cited "massive, pervasive and prejudicial press coverage" as a reason for a change of venue.

They called Boulder a small city and referenced the media's use of 911 calls, various newspaper articles and the victim's Dr. Phil appearance as factors that could sway a jury.

The victim, Michelle Wilkins, was seven months pregnant when she was attacked March 18 after going to Lane's house to look at some maternity clothes that had been advertised on Craigslist.

In a brief filed by the Boulder County District Attorney's Office in April, prosecutors said Lane spent an hour talking to Wilkins before she lured her down to the basement and attacked her with a lava lamp, breaking it over her head. She then stabbed Wilkins in the neck with the broken glass, cut her abdomen and took her baby.

Wilkins regained consciousness and called police. She survived, her baby, later named Aurora, did not.

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No decision on pregnant woman attack trial venue

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