Jurors to hear closing arguments in Newton County baby murder trial

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The jury will hear closing arguments Tuesday in the case of a Newton County couple accused of killing their newborn daughter then reporting her missing.

Defendants Courtney Marie Bell and Christopher McNabb are accused of smoking meth before murdering their 15-day-old daughter. Originally, the two claimed their child Caliyah was missing. The body of the young girl was found in a duffel bag, which prosecutors said belonged to her father, in the woods a day after being reported missing. Prosecutors said the infant was brutally beaten.

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Last week, jurors watched a lengthy jailhouse interview with Christopher McNabb in which Investigator Jeff Alexander told McNabb the evidence points to him killing Caliyah.

In the interview, McNabb continued to point the finger at other possible suspects who could be responsible for killing his baby, he admitted to getting physical with Caliyah’s mother Courtney Bell, and he said he wasn’t sure if he would be able to prove his innocence.

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Jurors also got to go to the place where her body was found near the couple’s mobile home park.

After the jailhouse interrogation, jurors heard a recording of Courtney Bell answering questions before she was arrested. In the recording, Bell admits, “I am guilty because I did drugs but I ain’t never seen this comin’ that’s my baby. I went to put her to sleep and I woke up and she was gone.”

In the recording, Bell also said she wanted help getting off drugs.

The parents insist they are innocent.

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