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Original poster

Mother jailed for 12 weeks for killing her daughter

38 replies

TinyPawz · 11/12/2009 20:04

linky

I don't think the court was harsh enough.... Hardly seems right that she will be free in 6weeks

OP posts:
Greensleeves · 11/12/2009 20:08

very sad

am appalled though by the pig ignorant comment about co-sleeping by the police officer

Greensleeves · 11/12/2009 20:09

she won't really be "free" though will she - her baby is dead and she knows it's her fault

that's 'punishment' enough IMO

I don't think this is what prisons are for, there are more constructive things that can be done about someone like this

thisisyesterday · 11/12/2009 20:12

how do you think a longer prison term would have helped?

she shoul;d have had a lot more support to stop her being in that situation in the first place, and doing something ridiculously stupid does not mean that she didn[t love and care for her child immensely.
there was no mention of any other neglect- and while I, and i expect most people, can't understand why you would want to do something like that (that level of drink and drugs), it's sadly the case that it's normal for an awful lot of people.

putting her in prison isn't going to change anything, it won't bring that poor child back and it won't "teach her a lesson". i think losing her baby girl has done that already

pofacedandproud · 11/12/2009 20:13

''Det Sgt Paul Hickey, from Lancashire Police, said: "This case highlights the significant dangers and consequences of falling asleep with your baby in bed with you, especially if you are under the influence of alcohol or recreational/prescribed drugs."

How on earth can you compare safe co-sleeping with a woman who was heavily drunk and had taken ecstasy and cocaine? FGS.

Idiot woman. She does sound broken though.

pofacedandproud · 11/12/2009 20:13

The worst thing is that if the baby had stayed at the babysitters she'd still be alive

Original poster
TinyPawz · 11/12/2009 23:40

6weeks prison sentance doesn't really equate with her killing her child.

Whether it was intentional or not, she did kill her child. There is no way to get away from that fact.

OP posts:
MsHighwater · 11/12/2009 23:54

TinyPawz, the intent does matter - of course it does. There is a world of difference between killing someone intentionally and causing a death inadvertently.

Original poster
TinyPawz · 12/12/2009 00:19

MsHighwater, if I unintentially killed someone, you can bet that I would be given a longer sentance.

Is this babys life worth less than an adult?

OP posts:
SolidGoldpiginablanket · 12/12/2009 00:27

FFS there is a legal distinction between murder (intending to kill) and manslaughter (killing without intending to kill). This poor woman did a stupid risky thing and her baby died - other people do pretty much the same thing and their babies don't invariably die. She didn't intend to kill the baby. She will never get over it.
DOn't forget that some men who have killed their partners for 'nagging'/taunting' them have recieved sentences on about this level of not lighter.

MsHighwater · 12/12/2009 21:33

TinyPawz, how long a sentence you would get, or even if you were found guilty, would depend on the details of what happened - just as, presumably, has happened here. The length of sentence is not, and should never be interpreted as being, a statement of the worth of the person who died.

FabIsGettingReadyForChristmas · 12/12/2009 21:52

Difficulties with her family don 't excuse or explain what she did.

If she had put the baby in the cot and she still died it would have been clear it was SIDS.

Poor baby.

chegirlwithbellson · 12/12/2009 21:54

The link says experts were unable to agree on the cause of death. So what was she jailed for? Was it neglect?

She didnt murder the child.
What happened was terrible and she has to take responsibility for it but I dont believe she deserves to be banged up for life.

Children and adults die everyday because other people do stupid, thoughtless things.

Its not the same as deliberately setting out to harm someone.

Although for the families of the victims it must feel that way.

RealityIsHungover · 12/12/2009 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MaggieAnFiaRua · 12/12/2009 21:58

I agree with Greensleeves, her punishment is losing her baby. The 6 weeks is nothing. If I lost one of my kids it would make difference to me whether i spent the next 6 weeks in a hotel or in a prison.

She was very foolish, but not evil.

GhoulsAreLoud · 12/12/2009 22:04

So awful. If only the babysitter had done something to prevent handing the baby over to her.

MrsMattie · 12/12/2009 22:07

What a terribly sad story. She's condemned to a life sentence. Poor woman and poor, poor little baby

Skegness · 12/12/2009 22:11

How utterly tragic.

Agree with greeny.

FabIsGettingReadyForChristmas · 12/12/2009 22:18

I would hate for the baby sitter to see your comment Ghouls. How could she have refused to return her daughter to her?

Hulababy · 12/12/2009 22:21

Imprisonment should be used to protect the public from people who are a danger to them.

This woman isn't a danger to the general public IMO.

lisad123wantsherquoteinDM · 12/12/2009 22:26

sad story, especially as friend had seen how drunk she was, knowing she was incharge of a baby that poor babysitter must feel terrible too.
She must have needed some help, drinking that much and doing drugs witha 6 week old to care for, I dont think i went on a night out before dd was 6 months.
No amount of time in prison will change what she did, i think she will punish herslef forever tbh

PeedOffWithNits · 12/12/2009 22:26

has she had her punishment already because she has lost her precious baby? Is she remorseful - only time will tell, if she goes on to have other children and behave as irresponsibly.

co-sleeping is good for babies PROVIDING that neither mum or dad are very heavy sleepers, smokers, or have been drinking or taking drugs

GhoulsAreLoud · 12/12/2009 22:40

I wouldn't have handed over a small baby to someone in that state.

Would probably have phoned the police if she'd insisted. I don't think it's legal to look after a child in that state, is it?

FabIsGettingReadyForChristmas · 13/12/2009 11:56

So easy to say when you are not in that position, Ghouls. I am sure all of us would like to think we wouldn't hand over the child but who really knows when faced with someone demanding their child back.

VirginPeachyMotherOfSpod · 13/12/2009 12:18

Good posts from Hula, SGB and greeny

I read she was jailed for neglect, not manslaughter, and not nefglect of the 'conventional' ongoing constant kind, but one poordecision made under theinfluene.I can't condone taking drugs with a baby tocare for, but seemingly there was no malice involced or calculated cruelty.

Such a sad story all round.

GhoulsAreLoud · 13/12/2009 13:21

Yes of course it's easy to say. Doesn't change the fact that the babysitter was acting in loco parentis given the state of the mother, and was the only other person who could have done something.