Rachel Tunstill, 28, of HMP Styal, was convicted following a retrial at Liverpool Crown Court which lasted seven weeks.
Tunstill was originally convicted of the child’s murder in June 2017 but in a subsequent appeal in London at the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Treacy ruled that the jury in the case should have been offered a verdict of infanticide to consider.
She had told her partner that she was suffering a miscarriage and despite offering to get her medical help, she declined and said she would handle the situation herself.
Each time he went to check on her, she repeated that she didn’t need any assistance.
She asked for a pair of scissors but did not say what these were for.
These are believed to have been used to inflict a total of 15 stab wounds to baby Mia.
On
Upon being examined, it was apparent that she had given birth.
Police were notified and attended the hospital.
Officers attended her address on Wellington Court and found baby Mia’s body in the kitchen bin concealed within a bag.
He was subsequently released without charge after detectives satisfied themselves that he had no involvement in Mia’s death and he did not know she was expecting his child.
He and Mia’s wider family continue to be supported by specially trained officers.
Speaking after court Det Ch Insp Gareth Willis from Lancashire Constabulary’s Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT) said:
“This was a truly horrifying and callous killing of a defenceless newborn baby by her mother; her source of life and who should have been her source of love.
“What is worse is that a totally innocent man, still coming to terms with the realisation he had a daughter and that she had died, was questioned by police because Tunstill lied about the fact she had killed the baby stating that it was stillborn. She has still never admitted why she killed Mia.
“My thoughts remain with Mia’s father and her family who have not only had to deal with their loss, they have also had to sit through two trials, listening in great detail to what she was subjected to.
“They have conducted themselves with great dignity and I hope this now gives them some comfort that the legal side of things
“Lastly, I would like to pass on my gratitude to the jury in this retrial and also the previous trial, for their careful consideration of the case.
“Also, I must say thanks to witnesses who have had to go through giving distressing evidence twice, as well as the police officers and staff who worked on this difficult and upsetting enquiry, seeking justice a second time for Mia.”
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