Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Suspended prison term for mother who killed daughter

Thursday 25 September 1997 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A mother who killed her severely handicapped daughter by removing a vital breathing tube as she lay in a hospital cot was given an 18-month suspended jail sentence yesterday.

Julie Watts, 31, was led sobbing from the dock at Manchester Crown Court after Mr Justice Sachs sentenced her for the manslaughter of 14-month- old Abigail.

The judge told Watts, a psychiatric nurse of Little Hulton , Bolton, Greater Manchester: ""If anyone thinks the sentence I am about to pass is any indication of approval of euthanasia or anything of that kind they are in error."

A jury last week convicted Watts of manslaughter, but cleared her of murder. Her trial heard how Abigail had been found collapsed in her cot at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital after being left by her mother only minutes before.

A tracheotomy tube enabling the little girl to breathe had been dislodged, but Watts denied causing her daughter any harm.

The court heard how Abigail was born with a "clover-leaf" skull, suffered water on the brain, had to breathe and feed through tubes and suffered hearing and sight impediments. She had also suffered brain damage and needed constant round-the-clock care.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in