Auburn woman charged with killing toddler awaits judge’s verdict

BANGOR — The trial of a Maine woman charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter has wrapped up and is now in the hands of a judge.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys made their closing statements Thursday in the jury-waived murder trial of 25-year-old Leanna Norris of Auburn.

Authorities say Norris gave her daughter, Loh Melody Grenda, a high dose of allergy medicine to help her sleep, then covered her mouth and nose with duct tape and a blanket in June 2013.

Norris is using an insanity defense. Her attorney said Thursday that Norris “could not see the world as it actually was.”

The prosecutor countered that Norris had “an appreciation of reality.”

A prosecution expert testified that while depressed, Norris was not psychotic.

It could be weeks before the judge issues a verdict.

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