Kids Killed In Fire, Mom On Trial

1:49 p.m.
- Medical examiner Dr. Eugene Hart testified both children died of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.
- Mykal had burns to 20% of his body. Malik was burned on 12% of his body.

12:48 p.m.
Prosecutors called several witnesses Tuesday morning. Among them, Labaraon Fleeton, a friend of Jacinta Watkins. Fleeton testified that Watkins and her two sons lived with him at one point. During that time, Fleeton said there were several incidents of 6-year-old Mykal playing with fire.

11:44 a.m.
Opening arguments began Tuesday morning in the manslaughter trial of Jacinta Watkins, the woman accused of leaving her two young boys alone in a motel room that caught fire.

5-year-old Malik Watkins and his 6-year-old brother Mykal died in a February 19, 2007 fire at the Bama Motel on Government Boulevard. Police believe one of the boys set the fire.

Watkins left her children alone to go to work, but her attorney says she isn't responsible for their deaths. During today's opening statements, Watkins attorney questioned whether the hotel had a working smoke detector, which could have prevented the children's death.

Watkins is charged with 2 counts of manslaughter.

Right now, News 5's Jessica Taloney is sitting in on Watkin's trial. She will have the latest on the trial tonight on News 5 at 5:00 & 6:00.