Suspended Sentence in Joanne Sharkey Newborn Child Manslaughter Case

Joanne Sharkey was sentenced today for the manslaughter of her newborn child in 1998. She was sentenced on the basis of diminished responsibility and received a suspended two year prison sentence.

 

Rebecca Filletti was the junior in the case, led by Nina Grahame KC, instructed by Jenny Price of Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors.

 

The tragic case involved complex legal, pathological, psychiatric, psychological and factual issues which the specialist legal team had been working through for many months before the plea was entered in March.

 

Mrs Justice Eady sentenced Mrs Sharkey to six-months imprisonment, also suspended, for concealment of her son’s body. Mrs Justice Eady said that this “very sad case calls for compassion”, and that Mrs Sharkey has a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation”.

 

Press coverage can be found here and here.

For more information, or to instruct Rebecca Filletti, please contact David Gibbons.