National News

Texas day care fire trial deliberations to resume

Posted: 11/13/12 at 8:35 am EST

HOUSTON (AP) -- A second day of deliberations awaits jurors in the trial of a Houston woman charged with murder after a 2011 fire at her home day care killed four children who had been left alone.

Jessica Tata is being tried on one of four counts of felony murder. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison.

Jurors were to resume working Tuesday after deliberating about 4 1/2 hours Monday.

Prosecutors say Tata had hot oil on a stove burner and left the children home alone while she went shopping. Three children were injured.

Defense attorneys argue the fire could have been sparked by a malfunctioning refrigerator.

Prosecutors say Tata is trying to avoid responsibility for what she did.

The jury can also find Tata guilty of several lesser charges.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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