Kentucky Man Charged Under Unborn Victims Law After Beating Pregnant Wife

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 24, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Kentucky Man Charged Under Unborn Victims Law After Beating Pregnant Wife Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 24, 2004

Louisville, KY (LifeNews.com) — A Kentucky man is being charged under a new law after beating his pregnant wife so severely that her unborn child died as a result.

Eric Adam Trask was arrested Tuesday in the assault of his wife Samantha E. Trask and the death of her 5 month-old unborn baby. He was also charged with violating a protective order prohibiting him from having contact with her.

The Unborn Victims of Violence Act protects pregnant women and allows prosecutors to charge criminals who kill or injure an unborn child in an attack on a pregnant woman with two crimes instead of just one.

Officer Dwight Mitchell, a Louisville Metro Police spokesman told the Louisville Courier Journal newspaper that this is the first time an area resident has been charged under the new law.

Rep. Bob Damron, a Nicholasville Democrat, confirmed that he believes this is the first person to be subjected to the new provision statewide.

A representative of the state’s pro-life organization said he was happy the law is on the books to give Samantha Trask additional justice and fully prosecute her husband’s crime.

"While the law cannot bring back her child, it serves an affirmation of her child’s human dignity and a deterrent for crimes against unborn children and pregnant women," Kentucky Right to Life assistant director Michael Janocik said.

According to the Courier Journal, Mrs. Trask contacted police yesterday indicated she had been beaten and said he was hit six or seven times in the head and stomach by her husband.

She was taken to University Hospital where an ultrasound performed by doctors confirmed that her baby had died.

The couple married in July, separated in August and had filed for divorce.

"As we gather with our families over Thanksgiving weekend, we hope all Kentuckians will keep the Trask family in their prayers," Janocik added.

The state legislature passed the unborn victims law and Governor Ernie Fletcher signed the law on January 30, 2004.

Related web sites:
Kentucky Right to Life – https://www.krla.org