
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 8, 1995                   TAG: 9506090046
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.                                LENGTH: Short

FLA. MOTHER GETS LIFE IN FAKED ABDUCTION

A woman who concocted a tale of abduction to cover up the beating death of her 7-year-old daughter was spared the electric chair Wednesday, receiving a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Pauline Zile, 24, did not directly take part in the slaying of Christina Holt but failed to stop the girl's stepfather, John Zile, from beating her Sept. 16, Circuit Judge Stephen A. Rapp said.

``Thank God, I can sleep tonight,'' Pauline Zile said after hearing her life had been spared, her attorney Ellis Rubin told reporters.

One month after Christina's death, Zile went on television with a tearful plea for the return of her missing child, claiming that the girl had been abducted from the restroom at a flea market. Six days later, Zile's husband led police to Christina's body, buried behind a department store.

Pauline Zile was convicted of murder and child abuse, and prosecutors had sought the death penalty. Her husband goes on trial Aug. 4.

At Mrs. Zile's sentencing, the judge portrayed her as coldly preparing for her daughter's death by selling off Christina's bicycle and toys beforehand.

Mrs. Zile's lawyers contend she was deprived of a fair trial because of the publicity over her false abduction claim.

``We will fight until this thing is turned around and the law is enforced instead of vengeance in this county,'' said Guy Rubin, son and co-counsel of Ellis Rubin.

The defense contended that Christina's death was an accident that occurred while John Zile disciplined her for soiling her pants. They said that Zile's husband had dominated her and had scripted the entire abduction tale.

by CNB