The more I think about this case, the more shocked I am that it isn't murder. I think it sends a terrible message about the values of children's lives.
I have looked through the Judge's ruling again, this part troubles me very much:
"Had it not been for your early plea of guilty to the reduced charge, and the indication at an even earlier stage that such a plea would be forthcoming, I would have sentenced you to 13 years imprisonment for the culpable homicide and a further two years for the attempt to defeat the ends of justice. That would have been 15 years in all.
But you are entitled to a substantial discount to reflect the saving in time and expense of a trial and, perhaps more relevant here, to reflect the fact that witnesses have not had to come to court to give evidence of a horrific and harrowing nature.
In the circumstances, the sentence of the court is one of imprisonment for 11 years. That will be backdated to 20 January 2014 since which date you have been in custody."
As she pleaded guilty, thus "saving in time and expense of a trial" she has had four years taken off her prison sentence.
I am well aware that remorse is considered as a mitigating factor, but to take nearly a third off someone's prison sentence when you have committed a crime like this, which can never be remedied, is appalling.
The judge mentions that a trial would be extremely distressing for witnesses, that's because it was a horrific crime, so why on earth reduce her sentence for that?
Can you imagine if that was your loved one? "Yes, what the defendant did was so horrendous, that because they've spared us having to hear all about it, we're going to let them out of prison sooner".