Michelle Neill, 55, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her paralysed sister, Kelly Neill, 48, who died from sepsis contracted from bed sores. The plea was entered at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.
Circumstances of Death
On the morning of 20 October 2022, Neill called for an ambulance to the family home in Deptford, south London. Paramedics found the victim on the floor of the living room in unsanitary conditions, surrounded by dirt, decay, and clutter. Kelly was distressed, non-verbal, and groaning, having been partially paralysed due to a stroke in January 2018.
She was taken to St Thomas’s Hospital in London and died on 23 October 2022. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as sepsis, due to multiple skin ulcers and the previous stroke.
Carer Responsibilities
Kelly was said to be living in “toxic” conditions, with Michelle having taken over as sole carer after their mother’s death. The court heard that Neill unlawfully killed her sister by breaching her duty of care, failing to summon medical assistance.
Legal Proceedings
Following her guilty plea to manslaughter by gross negligence, Judge Richard Marks KC adjourned sentencing for a report to be prepared and granted Neill continued bail. Sentencing will take place at the Old Bailey on a date to be fixed.
