Conviction overturned for woman jailed for murdering her baby

A woman who was imprisoned for killing her eight-week-old son and attempting to kill her toddler daughter has had her convictions overturned, the Court of Appeal announced.

Her identity remains protected by an anonymity order. She admitted to stabbing the children but denied the criminal charges.

Senior judges ruled on Friday that the guilty verdicts from the double stabbing in July 2021 could not be considered safe. Due to legal restrictions, further specifics of the ruling cannot currently be disclosed.

The prosecution and defence have not reached agreement regarding whether a new trial will take place.

In June 2023, the woman had been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years following a jury trial at Belfast Crown Court. She was convicted by a majority verdict of murdering her son and unanimously found guilty of attempting to murder her two-year-old daughter.

Both children were treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The daughter survived, while the son was pronounced dead.

The womans legal team challenged the original verdicts, citing procedural issues during the trial. Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan, presiding at the Court of Appeal, supported these challenges, stating she "cannot be satisfied that the convictions are safe."

The woman remains in custody as the court evaluates the possibility of a retrial.

Author: Gavin Porter