Woman on probation for killing baby

Press, 21 November 1981, Page 6

Woman on probation for killing baby

. PA Auckland . A woman who leapt from, the head of the Hiinua Falls, in South Auckland, killing her 18-day-old son. was put on probation for three years , by a High Court judge in Auckland yesterday. > iThe woman, aged 22, whose name was. suppressed, appeared for sentence before Mr Justice Prichard, having earlier pleaded guilty in the District Court at Otahuhu to a charge? of infanticide. Counsel. Mr Paul Temm, Q.C...said the young woman had a verv fragile personality and a delicate mind.; arid he-bad no wish to protract the.- matter 'an, instant longer than ‘was necessary. ■ His Honour said. “This is a ? tragic .sttuauon. and th& function of this court is to assist ‘you and ’your Tamily and not to punish you in any .way," Sentencing the lonian to three vears probation, with a

condition that she undergo psychiatric, treatment recommended by her probation officer, his Honour said he believed the support of the Probation Service would be of help to her; The District Court had heard that on September 18 the woman left an elder child with a .relative' and drove to?'the Hunua Falls. She walked up a steep path to the head of the falls with the baby strapped to her. She jumped off. the ' falls twice and as a result of one of the leaps, the baby died and she broke both , her wrists.. She left the baby on the bank of the river and went to a nouse tor help. .A suicide note was later found in the car. '.???:-. ' The District Court was told that the woman’s de-’, pression was compounded by* i the birth of her second child;