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Max Shatto: Texas prosecutor declines charges in death | Max Shatto: Texas prosecutor declines charges in death |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Prosecutors in Texas say they will not charge a couple whose adopted Russian son's death was ruled an accident. | Prosecutors in Texas say they will not charge a couple whose adopted Russian son's death was ruled an accident. |
Max Shatto, adopted from a Russian orphanage, died in January age three, soon after Russia banned US adoptions. | |
A grand jury had found insufficient evidence to charge Alan and Laura Shatto, a prosecutor said. | A grand jury had found insufficient evidence to charge Alan and Laura Shatto, a prosecutor said. |
The case sparked outrage in Russia, where authorities have launched their own investigation and demanded the Shattos face charges. | The case sparked outrage in Russia, where authorities have launched their own investigation and demanded the Shattos face charges. |
Texas doctors who examined the boy ruled his death had been an accident and that bruises on his body were self-inflicted. | Texas doctors who examined the boy ruled his death had been an accident and that bruises on his body were self-inflicted. |
According to preliminary results of a post-mortem examination released this month, the child died accidentally from a torn artery in his abdomen and had bruises consistent with injuring himself. | According to preliminary results of a post-mortem examination released this month, the child died accidentally from a torn artery in his abdomen and had bruises consistent with injuring himself. |
No drugs or medicines had been found in his body and the coroner said he had had a mental disorder that caused him to hurt himself. | No drugs or medicines had been found in his body and the coroner said he had had a mental disorder that caused him to hurt himself. |
Earlier this month, more than 10,000 people marched in Moscow to demand a halt to all foreign adoptions of Russian children. | |
Max Shatto, born Maksim Kuzmin, and his younger brother Kristopher were adopted from an orphanage in north-west Russia last year by the Shattos, who live in Gardendale, Texas. | Max Shatto, born Maksim Kuzmin, and his younger brother Kristopher were adopted from an orphanage in north-west Russia last year by the Shattos, who live in Gardendale, Texas. |
Murder allegation | Murder allegation |
Laura Shatto said she had found him unconscious outside the family's home and he died later in hospital. | Laura Shatto said she had found him unconscious outside the family's home and he died later in hospital. |
When he died, Russia's children's commissioner Pavel Astakhov alleged he had been murdered by his adoptive mother. | When he died, Russia's children's commissioner Pavel Astakhov alleged he had been murdered by his adoptive mother. |
But the Shattos' lawyer said the toddler had suffered from behavioural issues and occasionally butted his head on objects or other people. | But the Shattos' lawyer said the toddler had suffered from behavioural issues and occasionally butted his head on objects or other people. |
Kristopher still lives with the Shattos. | Kristopher still lives with the Shattos. |
In December, the Russian government banned adoptions of Russian orphans by Americans. Correspondents say Russia did so in retaliation for the US passing a law allowing Russian officials suspected of human rights abuses to be banned from the US. | In December, the Russian government banned adoptions of Russian orphans by Americans. Correspondents say Russia did so in retaliation for the US passing a law allowing Russian officials suspected of human rights abuses to be banned from the US. |