Overview of the case
A 42-year-old teaching assistant from Hampshire was jailed after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility following the drowning of her two-year-old daughter, Annabel, on a common in Kingsley. The court heard that the mother, Alice Mackey, suffered postpartum psychosis and believed she was “a bad mother.” In a delusional state, she thought killing Annabel would protect her child.
The incident occurred on a Hampshire common where Mackey drowned Annabel in a pond. She then walked the short distance home, dialled 999, and falsely claimed that her child had been abducted. It was not until almost two years later that she admitted the killing in a police interview and subsequently pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Mental health context and legal outcome
Mr Justice Saini described the case as tragic and indicated that Mackey had been mentally unwell from birth until Annabel’s death. The judge accepted that Mackey perceived herself as failing as a mother and that the act, in her deranged view, was some form of mercy for Annabel. The court noted remorse and the progress she had made in prison since the incident.
In sentencing, Mackey received four years in prison, minus 216 days she had already spent in custody. The judge acknowledged the absence of any winners in such cases and expressed hope that Mackey could lead a useful life in the future. The defence argued that Mackey had an exemplary character and a deep love for her daughter, but postpartum psychosis and anxiety had destabilised her mental state, culminating in the tragic events of September 2023.
Family accounts and impact
During the case, statements from Annabel’s father described the lasting torment of the loss. He spoke of the moment her life support was turned off and the feeling of guilt for not being able to protect his daughter. The father recounted the daily pain of imagining Annabel’s future—she might have started school, found love, and had a life that was cruelly interrupted.
Patrick Gibbs KC, Mackey’s barrister, characterised Mackey as a woman who had suffered significant mental health challenges, including five miscarriages and a difficult IVF journey. He emphasised that her moment of tragedy did not reflect her true character and that she would never have another child due to the risk posed by her mental health history.
What this case reveals about mental health and parenting
The case underscores the complex relationship between postpartum mental illness and parenting safety. Postpartum psychosis, though uncommon, can dramatically alter perception and judgment. Experts and advocates argue that robust community support and timely intervention are crucial in preventing tragedies when new mothers experience severe symptoms. The court’s decision reflects a careful balance between accountability and recognition of severe mental illness that contributed to the act.
Looking ahead
As Mackey begins to serve her sentence, the broader conversation around maternal mental health continues. The legal process has brought attention to the dangers of untreated postpartum conditions and the importance of accessible mental health care for new mothers. The case closes with a somber reminder of the fragility of parental capacity under the weight of severe mental illness.
