Rachel Tunstill, serving a 17-year sentence for fatally stabbing her baby with scissors, passes away in prison six years into her term.
In 2017, she inflicted over 15 wounds on her baby girl, Mia Kelly, before disposing of her body in a bin at their Burnley residence.
Initially convicted of murder and sentenced to life with a 20-year minimum term, a retrial found that the jury should have considered infanticide. Despite this, Tunstill was once again convicted of murder and given a minimum 17-year sentence.
A spokesperson from the Prison Service confirmed Tunstill’s death in custody on August 1, 2023, stating that the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate, as is standard procedure for all deaths in custody.
During the time of delivery, her partner remained engrossed in video games in the adjacent room. Subsequently, she falsely claimed a miscarriage and requested scissors, proceeding to ruthlessly stab the newborn to death without remorse.
Upon sentencing, Judge Mr. Justice King remarked, “This must have constituted a prolonged and frenzied assault on a particularly vulnerable victim due to her tender age. Instead of embracing and comforting her newborn, her obligation was callously betrayed by the act of fatally stabbing her.”
“In my assessment, there was an attempt to conceal the body, albeit brief, coupled with the added indignity of disposing of it in such a manner,” the judge continued, addressing the gravity of the situation.
Tunstill held a master’s degree in forensic psychology from university.
“Her demeanor remained void of any emotion or remorse following the fatal stabbing of her infant,” stated Mr. Justice King.
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