Melanie
August 30th, 2006, 04:28 AM
Killer mother suffered post-natal depression
A MOTHER who killed her baby by setting fire to their home, before making up a story about masked intruders, was suffering from post-natal depression, a court heard yesterday.
Single mum Danielle Wails was dragged from her burning home in the Cowgate area of Newcastle by police and fire rescue teams on August 28 last year.
She told detectives the fire had been started by intruders, who tied her up with a telephone cord and beat her unconscious.
continued...
Police launched a nationwide manhunt for the mystery killers.
But yesterday, the 22-year-old admitted it was she who had started the blaze.
Wails admitted infanticide when she appeared before Newcastle Crown Court for the start of what was due to be a murder trial.
Following the fire at the house, Wails told detectives she had been knocked unconscious and when she awoke, a fire was burning in the lounge where her four-month-old son, Alexander, was crying for help.
She said she used her tongue to dial 999 and shouted through the letterbox to neighbours, begging them to try to save her and her son.
Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade was called to Wails' burning home in Link Road, on the Cowgate housing estate, in Newcastle.
Police arrived first and saw smoke billowing from within.
The front door was locked and Danielle was screaming for help through the letter box.
Police and firefighters kicked down the door and carried Wails and the badly-burned body of her baby son from the burning house.
Wails was living in accommodation provided by a charity that helps single mothers.
She denied murder but admitted killing Alexander by starting a fire at their home.
Her plea was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service after the court heard two psychiatrists both agreed she was suffering from post-natal depression and that the balance of her mind was disturbed at the time of the tragedy.
The court heard Wails had also intended to kill herself.
However, despite accepting her admission of infanticide, the prosecution refused to accept the alleged suicide claim.
Paul Sloan QC, prosecuting, said: ''The natural inference to be drawn from all of the circumstances is that while she intended to take the child's life, she had not formed the intention of taking her own life.
''She has admitted infanticide on the basis that, at the time, the balance of her mind was disturbed by reason of not having fully recovered from the effects of giving birth to the child.
''Two psychiatrists are of the opinion that the balance of her mind was disturbed."
The court heard that Wails had claimed she was not being supported by health and social services staff in the weeks before the tragedy.
However, official records showed she had missed some appointments and that all efforts to contact her had proved futile.
The hearing was adjourned until October 20 for pre-sentence reports to be prepared and Wails was remanded in custody
A MOTHER who killed her baby by setting fire to their home, before making up a story about masked intruders, was suffering from post-natal depression, a court heard yesterday.
Single mum Danielle Wails was dragged from her burning home in the Cowgate area of Newcastle by police and fire rescue teams on August 28 last year.
She told detectives the fire had been started by intruders, who tied her up with a telephone cord and beat her unconscious.
continued...
Police launched a nationwide manhunt for the mystery killers.
But yesterday, the 22-year-old admitted it was she who had started the blaze.
Wails admitted infanticide when she appeared before Newcastle Crown Court for the start of what was due to be a murder trial.
Following the fire at the house, Wails told detectives she had been knocked unconscious and when she awoke, a fire was burning in the lounge where her four-month-old son, Alexander, was crying for help.
She said she used her tongue to dial 999 and shouted through the letterbox to neighbours, begging them to try to save her and her son.
Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade was called to Wails' burning home in Link Road, on the Cowgate housing estate, in Newcastle.
Police arrived first and saw smoke billowing from within.
The front door was locked and Danielle was screaming for help through the letter box.
Police and firefighters kicked down the door and carried Wails and the badly-burned body of her baby son from the burning house.
Wails was living in accommodation provided by a charity that helps single mothers.
She denied murder but admitted killing Alexander by starting a fire at their home.
Her plea was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service after the court heard two psychiatrists both agreed she was suffering from post-natal depression and that the balance of her mind was disturbed at the time of the tragedy.
The court heard Wails had also intended to kill herself.
However, despite accepting her admission of infanticide, the prosecution refused to accept the alleged suicide claim.
Paul Sloan QC, prosecuting, said: ''The natural inference to be drawn from all of the circumstances is that while she intended to take the child's life, she had not formed the intention of taking her own life.
''She has admitted infanticide on the basis that, at the time, the balance of her mind was disturbed by reason of not having fully recovered from the effects of giving birth to the child.
''Two psychiatrists are of the opinion that the balance of her mind was disturbed."
The court heard that Wails had claimed she was not being supported by health and social services staff in the weeks before the tragedy.
However, official records showed she had missed some appointments and that all efforts to contact her had proved futile.
The hearing was adjourned until October 20 for pre-sentence reports to be prepared and Wails was remanded in custody