Summary of the case
A 42-year-old teaching assistant, Alice Mackey, has been jailed for four years after admitting to the manslaughter of her two-year-old daughter, Annabel, during a period of postpartum psychosis. The court heard that Mackey believed she was a bad mother and that protecting Annabel required her death. The incident occurred on a Hampshire common in the village of Kingsley, after which Mackey called 999 and claimed her child had been abducted.
Timeline and key facts
According to the prosecution and evidence presented at Winchester Crown Court, Mackey’s mental state deteriorated in the months leading up to Annabel’s death. She was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis and anxiety and had been detained under the Mental Health Act. After being cared for by a community team, she was deemed to have recovered from the psychosis and, in January 2023, she stopped taking prescribed antidepressants, returning to what appeared to be normal life.
In September 2023, Mackey drowned her two-year-old daughter in a pond on a Hampshire common, a short distance from her home. She subsequently returned home, attempted to report an abduction, and dialled 999. During the killing, she described a sense of detachment, viewing herself from outside her body and believing she was not really herself. The court heard she believed killing Annabel was an act of protection and mercy in her deluded state.
Legal outcome and reasoning
Almost two years after the death, Mackey pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Saini accepted that she had been mentally unwell from before Annabel’s birth until the time of her death and that the delusions influenced her actions. He described the case as tragic and noted that Mackey showed remorse and had made progress in prison.
The judge imposed a four-year sentence, subtracting the 216 days Mackey had already spent in custody. He emphasised that there are no winners in such cases and expressed a hope that Mackey can lead a useful life in the future. Her barrister, Patrick Gibbs KC, described Mackey as a woman of exemplary character who faced extreme pressures from multiple miscarriages and infertility treatments before the birth of Annabel. Gibbs said motherhood contributed to a collapse in confidence and mental health, culminating in the tragic act when she believed her child was in danger from a bad mother.
Impact on the family
Annabel’s father delivered a victim impact statement detailing the heartbreak of losing his daughter and the pain of not being there to protect her. He described how Annabel’s future—her first day at school, possible relationships, and his own later experiences—had been irretrievably stolen. The statement underscored the lasting trauma for loved ones and the profound sense of guilt that can accompany such tragedies.
Context: postpartum psychosis and mental health care
Postpartum psychosis is a severe mental health condition that can emerge after childbirth, characterized by delusions, mood swings, and impaired judgement. In Mackey’s case, clinical evidence indicated she had been unwell from shortly after Annabel’s birth. After treatment under the Mental Health Act and subsequent support from a community care team, she had apparently returned to a measure of stability before the fatal relapse. The case highlights the importance of ongoing mental health support for new mothers, particularly those with a history of miscarriages and difficult fertility treatments.
Broader implications
Cases like this raise complex questions about balancing public safety, parental rights, and the needs of people with severe mental illness. They also stress the importance of early identification, continuous treatment, and strong social supports for new mothers grappling with postpartum psychosis. While justice was served through a custodial sentence, families affected by such tragedies continue to endure lasting emotional and social consequences.
