Mother Serving Life Sentence Claims Parole Unfairly Blocked Over Guilt Denial
Michelle Smith, a mother convicted of murdering her own infant daughter nearly two decades ago, is asserting that her freedom is being unjustly withheld because she continues to refuse to admit her guilt. Parole Board documents reveal that Smith, now 53, has appealed a decision to block her release, arguing it was "irrational and procedurally unfair" and based primarily on her denial of responsibility.
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 after being found guilty of feeding her 42-day-old baby daughter, Amy, a fatal dose of the powerful adult painkiller dihydrocodeine in 2007. The jury at Swansea Crown Court unanimously convicted her of murder, with evidence showing she crushed tablets prescribed only to adults and administered them to Amy in her bottle feed on three separate occasions.
Mr Justice Spencer, the sentencing judge, described the murder as "a gross abuse of your position as her mother" and noted it involved "significant planning and premeditation." He imposed a minimum term of 12 years, suggesting Smith acted out of a craving for attention. Smith has consistently denied harming Amy, claiming she never gave her the drug and was unaware of its presence in medications stored at home.
Parole Board Rejects Appeal
After serving 19 years behind bars, Smith recently appealed the Parole Board's decision to deny her release and a transfer to an open prison. In documents obtained by the Mirror, Smith contended that the ruling was unfairly influenced by her refusal to admit guilt. However, His Hon Peter Jones, a judicial member of the Parole Board, dismissed her application as "without merit," meaning she will remain in maximum-security conditions until her next review.
The case highlights the Parole Board's emphasis on remorse and acceptance of responsibility in assessing an inmate's suitability for release. Smith's insistence on her innocence has thus become a significant barrier to her freedom, despite her lengthy incarceration.
Background of the Crime
Six-week-old Amy died on November 9, 2007, after Smith poisoned her three times with dihydrocodeine. On the first occasion, doctors found nothing wrong and sent Amy home. The second time, urine tests revealed the drug, but results were not communicated to doctors, leading to another release. The third poisoning proved fatal, and a post-mortem confirmed the drug's presence, prompting a police investigation.
Smith and her husband Christopher, who did not attend the trial, were questioned initially. Both had been prescribed medications containing dihydrocodeine for various ailments. Smith was arrested in September 2010, released without charge, then re-arrested and charged with murder in June 2011. In January 2012, she briefly confessed during a police station visit but retracted it almost immediately.
Aftermath and Connections
Following the verdict in July 2012, Det Sgt Justin Evans of South Wales Police expressed hope that the conviction would help Amy's family move on, noting that "Amy was only six weeks old when she was killed by the one person who should have done more than any other to keep her safe."
In 2023, reports emerged that Smith had formed a friendship in prison with convicted killer Lucy Letby, a former nurse, and Shauna Hoare, involved in the killing of schoolgirl Becky Watts. A source described the trio as "inseparable," spending time together on activities like sunbathing and karaoke, and bonding over shared beliefs in their innocence.
Smith's case continues to draw attention due to its tragic nature and the ongoing legal battles over her parole, underscoring the complex interplay between justice, rehabilitation, and admission of guilt in the criminal system.
