Manslaughter sentence reduced

Laura Heath, convicted of the gross negligence manslaughter of her 7 year old son, Hakeem, succeeded in her appeal against sentence on Thursday, where the 20 year term imposed by the trial judge amid a blaze of publicity was reduced to 15 years. Errors of approach and principle in the imposition of the sentence were identified by Issy Forshall KC, assisted by Hayley Douglas. 

In the early stages of the trial last year, the trial Judge, Mr Justice Dove, upheld defence submissions that an indicted offence of so-called reckless manslaughter was not or was no longer known to the law. Issy Forshall KC made these submissions leading Robert Tolhurst of Citadel Chambers.