Burnley mum jailed for killing baby has murder conviction quashed

Rachel Tunstill (26), of Wellington Court, Burnley, was sentenced to life for killing her baby girl in January, last year.

She had denied murder due to diminished responsibility but was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years imprisonment following the trial at Preston Crown Court.

Judges at London's Court of Appeal have now said the jury should have been given the option of an infanticide conviction.

The charge of infanticide is defined as the killing of a child aged under 12 months by his or her mother who at the time was "disturbed by reason of her not having fully recovered from the effect of giving birth to the child".

Police were called at shortly before 3pm on Monday, January 16th, to reports of a sudden death at an address in Wellington Court.

Officers attended and found the body of a new born baby girl inside a bin in the kitchen of the property. A post-mortem examination showed she had suffered multiple stab wounds caused by a pair of scissors.

Lord Justice Treacy gave his judgement after hearing the appeal earlier this month. He has ordered a retrial.