Former medical examiner doubts own autopsy report about stillborn fetus in manslaughter case

JACKSON, Miss. - A former medical examiner says there are clear holes in his autopsy report on a stillborn fetus - a report used by a prosecutor to charge the mother with manslaughter.

Bruce Levy spoke to The Clarion-Ledger about his report on a fetus stillborn in 2009 to Nina Buckhalter. The manslaughter charge alleged that she took drugs which killed her unborn baby.

A district judge threw out the charge. The Mississippi Supreme Court heard arguments April 2. Levy's report won't affect its ruling on whether the state law allowing charges against someone who causes a miscarriage can be used against a mother who takes illegal drugs.

Levy says he cannot prove that drug use caused the stillbirth.

He was in Tennessee in 2009. He's now in Illinois.

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