by Oke Efagene

A 39-year-old woman in Massachusetts, USA, has been accused of beating and strangling her pregnant friend, after which she cut the fetus from her womb.

The accused, Julie Corey, of Worcester, will face a jury next week, almost 5 years after the gruesome crime.

Opening statements are scheduled for Monday, in the murder and kidnapping trial of Corey.

According to Huffington Post report:

Prosecutors say Corey killed Darlene Haynes, who was eight months pregnant, made a 9-inch incision in Haynes’ abdomen and took her fetus. The girl survived, and Corey told her boyfriend, Alex Dion, that the baby was theirs, according to authorities.

Dion’s family said Corey introduced a baby girl to them at a family gathering on July 25, 2009, two days before Haynes’ body was discovered.

Several days later, authorities found Corey, Dion and the baby at a homeless shelter in Plymouth, N.H. Dion was not charged.

DNA testing showed that Haynes, 23, was the mother of the baby.

The girl, who is now 4, is living with her biological father, Roberto Rodriguez, said Paul Jarvey, a spokesman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

Corey has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and murder charges. Michael Wilcox, one of Corey’s lawyers, declined to comment Friday.

Attorney Louis Aloise, who also represents Corey, said she was not involved in Haynes’ killing.

“The defense is she didn’t do it. Others did it. She had nothing to do with the homicide at all,” Aloise told the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester.

Aloise said Corey came into possession of Haynes’ baby “by lawful means.” Wilcox would not elaborate.

Prosecutors say Corey was the last person seen with Haynes.

During a 2009 court hearing, Wilcox said Corey had “something of a