SAN FRANCISCO — A sexual assault that leaves a victim pregnant may be punished more severely than one that did not result in pregnancy, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday. The jurors at Cross’s trial were told they could find that Cross personally inflicted “great bodily injury” on the girl as a result of her pregnancy or the abortion. The state high court agreed with Cross that the abortion was not an injury he personally inflicted, but decided the pregnancy could be considered a significant injury under the law. Although the court ruled unanimously that the girl’s pregnancy amounted to substantial harm, the justices split 5-2 on whether to declare that every pregnancy stemming from sexual assault would amount to a great injury. read more

Technorati Tags: pregnancy, court, injury, abortion, cross, great, pregnancy news