Mum Alice Mackey jailed for four years for killing daughter, 2, found dead in pond

A mum has been jailed after she admitted killing her daughter, 2, who was found dead in a village pond.

Annabel Mackey went missing from her home on September 10, 2023, and was found unresponsive a short time later at Kingsley Pond in Hampshire.

She was taken to the hospital in a serious condition but died the following afternoon.

Alice Mackey, 42, was jailed for four years at Winchester Crown Court today after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Annabel in July.

Mackey was in a state of ‘diminished responsibility’ at the time of the incident, according to two psychiatrists, the court was previously told.

She had previously entered a not guilty plea to murder, which prosecutors accepted.

Judge Saini KC told Mackey it is ‘agreed that at the time you killed Annabel, your ability to form a rational judgement was substantially impaired’.

The judge added: ‘You killed Annabel on the basis of a delusional belief that the best way to protect her from a bad mother was to kill Annabel.

‘You falsely believed she was not flourishing under your care and was in fact suffering under your care.’

The court previously heard how Mackey took Annabel to Kingsley Pond, on the outskirts of Kingsley, because she felt she was a ‘bad mother’.

Prosecutors accepted that she was suffering from postpartum depression and had stopped taking her medication in January 2023.

Adam Vaitalingham KC, prosecuting, told the court that Mackey drowned the toddler.

‘She returned to the house knowing what she had done was wrong and made the call saying she had no idea what had happened,’ he added.

Mackey reported her child missing at around 5pm, with officers finding the mother combing through the woodland for Annabel.

Annabel was given CPR at the scene but was declared dead the following day at Southampton General Hospital

The toddler was a ‘beautiful, positive and very happy little girl’, her father said earlier this year.

He added: ‘She had an incredibly pure and caring nature that we miss so much. She loved story time, dogs and her dolly.

‘She enjoyed singing songs and nursery rhymes and had a very sweet tooth.

‘Annabel loved to laugh; she brought so much happiness into our lives. She was dearly loved by her family and friends.

‘Thank you to everyone who was a positive influence in her life. Please continue Annabel’s legacy by remembering her and caring for others as much as she did.

‘The world needs more people like Annabel to spread positivity and kindness.

‘Annabel, I love you so much, you are a shining star and you will be loved forever.’

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