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Lawyer admits 'house of squalor' woman was a bad mom

The lawyer of a woman accused of murder in one of the worst child abuse cases in the state said she's a bad mother, but not a murderer. 

BLACKSTONE, Mass. — "There's no evidence of her doing anything. There's no evidence of her having an awareness of a problem," said defense lawyer Keith Halpern.

Erika Murray stood staring straight ahead as her attorney defended her in court; she's charged in the death of her two of her infants and hiding the death of a third. The remains of the babies were found amid heaps of bugs, dirty diapers and filth in her home on Saint Paul Street in Blackstone. Two other children, 3 years and 5 months were found alive, but hidden among the filth.

They had never been outside. 

<< PHOTOS: Inside the Blacktstone 'House of squalor' >>

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Police were called to the house in August 2014 when a 10-year-old boy in the home asked a neighbor to help his crying sibling. Inside the home, officers found the remains of dogs and of three other children.

<< PHOTOS: Crews clear out the Blackstone 'House of squalor' >>

Worcester County prosecutors argued Murray was aware and had a motive.

"She knew her boyfriend did not want these children. She had no intention or ability to care for them," said ADA John Bradley.

Halpern argued that all evidence found when detectives searched the home should be thrown out; a warrant for a kidnapping charge was used to justify the search of the home.

"The notion that that woman, in that house, was capable of masterminding a kidnapping ring? It's absurd. And I don't believe for a minute that the police believed that. And I don't think the police did any investigation whatsoever of kidnapping," said Halpern.

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Bradley told the court that investigators acted reasonably, especially with the possibility of children in danger.

Halpern also asked for two child endangerment charges be dropped on a technicality. The prosecution did throw out charge of hiding the death of a child out of wedlock.

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A judge is expected to rule on the other motions by Feb. 25. Murray's live-in boyfriend, who claimed not to know anything about her pregnancies, is due in court next week.

The house has since been torn down. Halpern said the children found in the home are still struggling physically and her older children still working to cope.

<< RAW VIDEO: Crews demolish Blackstone 'house of squalor' >>

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