EDINBURGH MOTHER JAILED FOR SMOTHERING BABY AMID PND STRUGGLES
A mother who admitted killing her baby in Edinburgh after being unable to receive help for postnatal depression has been given a three-year sentence.But the judge said she would only go to jail once she had completed hospital treatment for psychiatric difficulties.
Erin Sutherland, 36, covered the mouth and nose of almost 10-month-old Chloe at her Parkhead View home in February.
She was arrested for the murder of the baby but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of culpable homicide.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard postnatal depression was no longer considered a factor after the child was more than six months old.
Judge Lady Wise said it was regrettable that the support Sutherland needed for her depression was not made available but she acted in a way society finds abhorrent.
The court also heard that Sutherland had previously received hospital treatment following the birth of an older daughter when she was again diagnosed with postnatal depression (PND) in 2006.
Her symptoms worsened when the child was eight months old and led to her becoming an inpatient.
This earlier episode of PND involved Sutherland believing it would be better for her two children if she died and took them with her.
In December last year, when her family doctor contacted a perinatal mental health team for her to see a community psychiatric nurse (CPN) following a consultation support could not be offered because of the child's age.
Advocate depute Iain McSporran earlier told the High Court in Edinburgh there "appears to have been a severe recurrence of PND at the time of Chloe's death".
