미법원, 아기 질식사 혐의 여성에 무죄…여판사들 판단이 결정적

술먹고 생후 4개월 딸과 자다 질식시킨 엄마에게 20년형 원심 깨고 무죄 판결

유아용 침대

[타스=연합뉴스 자료사진]

(서울=연합뉴스) 김유아 기자 = 미국에서 술에 취한 상태로 잠을 자다가 한 침대에 누워 있던 생후 4개월 된 딸을 질식시켜 숨지게 한 혐의로 20년형을 받은 여성에 대해 미 고등법원이 무죄 판결을 내렸다.

특히 4명의 여성 판사들이 이 여성의 손을 들어준 게 판결에 결정적 영향을 미쳤다.

메릴랜드주 고등법원은 과실치사 혐의를 받는 뮤리얼 모리슨(48)에게 징역 20년을 선고한 원심을 깨고 무죄 판결을 내렸다고 워싱턴포스트(WP)가 30일(현지시간) 보도했다.

WP는 무죄 의견을 낸 판사들이 모두 여성이라는 점을 지목하고, 재판부의 의견이 성별에 따라 나뉘었다고 지적했다.

4명의 여성 판사들은 "맥주를 마시고 4개월 된 딸과 함께 잤다고 해서 죽음이나 심각한 부상을 초래할 가능성이 항상 뒤따르는 것은 아니다"라며 모리슨이 "중대한 부주의"를 저질렀다는 증거가 부족하다고 판결했다.

무죄 의견을 낸 판사 중 한명인 셜리 M 왓슨 판사는 모리슨에 대한 유죄 판결이 유색인종이나 사회경제적 지위가 제한된 여성 다른 영향을 미칠 가능성이 있다는 점을 언급했다.

아이와 함께 자는 것은 가족의 전통이었고, 다른 자녀와도 줄곧 그래왔다면서 억울함을 토로한 모리슨의 주장을 일부 수용한 것으로 해석된다.

다만 재판부는 모리슨의 아동 방치 혐의는 인정하고 보호관찰 명령을 내렸다.

볼티모어에 거주하는 모리슨은 2013년 9월 1일 저녁 소셜미디어 페이스북 라이브 영상을 통해 지인과 맥주를 마시면서 약 1천250㎖가량의 맥주류 알코올을 마신 뒤 4살 딸과 생후 4개월 된 딸이 자고 있는 침대에 누워 잠들었다. 당시 엄마들 사이에선 온라인을 이용해 자신만의 시간을 보내는 이벤트를 하는 것이 유행했다.

다음 날 아침 잠에서 깬 모리슨은 4개월 된 딸이 축 늘어져 있는 것을 발견하고 심폐소생술을 시도한 뒤 911에 신고했으나 딸은 숨졌다.

모리슨에 대한 재판에 증인으로 나온 4살 딸은 동생 위를 뒹굴며 잠자던 모리슨을 흔들어봤으나 너무 깊이 잠들어서 깨우지 못했다고 전했다.

지난해 5울 10일 미국 메사추세츠주 한 가게에 맥주가 진열돼 있다. [EPA=연합뉴스 자료사진]

미국 소아과협회(AAP)는 부모와 영유아는 각기 다른 침대를 사용하라고 권고하고 있다. 미 질병통제예방센터(CDCP)에 따르면 미국에서는 매년 영유아 3천500여명이 영아급사증후군(SIDS), 침대에서의 우발적 질식 등으로 인해 사망하고 있다.

볼티모어 보건 당국은 영유아 사망률을 낮추기 위해 자녀를 홀로 재우자는 구호를 내걸고 캠페인을 벌이기도 했다.

WP는 재판부가 영유아 자녀와 함께 자는 행위를 범죄로 규정할 준비가 되지 않았음을 보여준다고 평가했다.

kua@yna.co.kr

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