The eight-year jail sentence handed to Frankie Smith for causing or allowing the death of her 16-month-old daughter, Star Hobson, has been referred to the Court of Appeal. Attorney General Suella Braverman said she believed the sentence was 'unduly lenient'.
Smith, 20, was jailed last month after being convicted of causing or allowing Star's death. Her partner, Savannah Brockhill, 28, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years. Braverman said she could not refer Brockhill's sentence as it was not unduly lenient.
Star died of cardiac arrest after being punched or kicked by Brockhill in September 2020 using 'massive force' comparable to a road traffic accident. A postmortem revealed previous brain injuries, fractured bones and internal organ injury.
During the trial, Smith pleaded guilty to eight instances of child cruelty. The court heard she had extremely low intelligence and was 'abnormally compliant' with authority figures, but the judge described her as a 'neglectful and callous parent' who prioritised her own interests.
A local review of Star's death is due in January, feeding into a national review ordered after the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Braverman said her thoughts were with those who loved Star, adding that the case was 'tragic and extremely upsetting'.
