This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/sussex/7706216.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mother jailed for suffocating son | Mother jailed for suffocating son |
(21 minutes later) | |
A mother from Surrey has been jailed for life for suffocating her three-year-old son. | |
Tara Haigh, 24, of Guildford, was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey and ordered to serve at least 10 years. | |
During her trial, jurors heard Haigh killed her son Billy by smothering him with a pillow at their home. | |
Within a few hours of his death, in November 2005, she had logged on to an internet dating site and arranged to meet a man, the court was told. | Within a few hours of his death, in November 2005, she had logged on to an internet dating site and arranged to meet a man, the court was told. |
After attempts to resuscitate Billy in hospital failed, Haigh went to her parents' home, where she used the computer. | After attempts to resuscitate Billy in hospital failed, Haigh went to her parents' home, where she used the computer. |
Billy was a well and happy child whose life was cruelly taken away from him Judge Peter Thornton QC | |
Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, said: "An examination of the computer showed that within a few hours of her son's death, she was accessing messages sent to her by men on the website Girls Date Free." | Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, said: "An examination of the computer showed that within a few hours of her son's death, she was accessing messages sent to her by men on the website Girls Date Free." |
She posted a message on the website saying her son had died from a tumour behind the ear. | She posted a message on the website saying her son had died from a tumour behind the ear. |
Haigh had denied murdering Billy, claiming she had put him to bed but found he had collapsed when she checked on him later. | Haigh had denied murdering Billy, claiming she had put him to bed but found he had collapsed when she checked on him later. |
Ms Howes told the court that the child had been on the social services' at risk register for neglect. | |
Ms Haigh had learning difficulties and Billy's father was in prison for assaulting her. | Ms Haigh had learning difficulties and Billy's father was in prison for assaulting her. |
Jurors heard that in January 2005 an ambulance had been called to a previous address where Billy and his parents were living. | |
'Vulnerable child' | |
The caller said Billy had stopped breathing, but he was found to be fit and well and a specialist could find nothing wrong with him. | |
Sentencing Haigh, Judge Peter Thornton QC said it was not clear why she had killed her son. | |
He told her: "Billy was a well and happy child whose life was cruelly taken away from him. | |
"You killed your son, a vulnerable child in your care and protection. | |
"You were, I accept, a good and loving parent doing the best you could. | |
"There was no accusation of cruelty and losing your child, all be it by your own hand, must have been a punishment for you. | |
"The circumstances of Billy's death do not bear thinking about. | |
"He would have struggled for his life, fighting against his mother whom he had loved and trusted, until he was overpowered by your superior strength and will." |