Wandsworth Mum Admits Killing Her Babies

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A plea of diminished responsibility reduces charge from murder to manslaughter

In May, 35 year old Felicia Boots, suffocated Lily Boots, aged 14 months, and her 10-week-old brother Mason in their home in Killarney Road, SW18. A preliminary inquest hearing found the two children had been suffocated.

The judge, Mr Justice Fulford, said the case was indescribably sad and what she did was a result of psychological forces beyond her control. She was ordered to be detained at a psychiatric hospital.

Jeff Boots found the children lying side by side on the floor of a walk-in wardrobe when he arrived home from work on 9th May. She had also tried to kill herself.

Mrs Boots, was in court to enter her plea. She gave a note to her counsel Kate Bex to read which said:
"May 9, 2012 is a day I will be eternally sorry for. It should never have happened. It troubles me more than anyone will ever know. Part of me will always be missing. I am a good person. I am a good mum and I never meant any of this to happen. I am truly sorry."

The court was told that Mrs Boots had been detained at a psychiatric unit since the deaths and the prosecution's decision followed consideration of doctors' reports.

The court heard that Felicia Boots suffered postnatal depression following the births of both children, but it appeared she was getting better. She had been prescribed anti-depressants but had not been taking them after becoming convinced the babies would be taken away from her because of the effects of the drugs on her breast milk.

Prosecution Edward Brown QC, prosecuting, told the court the Crown had closely examined the medical evidence and spoken to Boots' husband, who was in court.old the court: "This plainly is a tragic case. There were signs Mrs Boots had made an attempt on her own life. She had marks to her neck."

 

 

November 1, 2012