Most states vary but all have laws dictating what they consider the legal life of an unborn child. Maria, a nurse in a psychiatric facility, is 12 weeks' pregnant. She has just arrived at work and has been on the floor making medication rounds for 20 minutes when a patient, hiding behind his door, leaps on her, punches her, knocks her to the floor, and kicks her in an attempt to leave the facility. Maria is injured and hospitalized. Examinations and tests prove that her unborn child was killed in utero during the assault. Aside from the death of her unborn child, Maria herself should make a complete recovery, both from the assault and from the miscarriage. Her physician is confident she will be able to have other children. 1. Can the person who committed the assault also be charged with murder? Why or why not? 2. What type of case would Maria have? 3. Do some research on this question, it is not an opinion based question. (Hint: the results may be different from state to state)