In 2019, the Offender Database confirmed that Rachel Tunstill, then 28, formerly of Burnley, Lancashire, was found guilty of the murder of her newborn daughter, Mia Kelly, following a seven-week retrial at Liverpool Crown Court. Rachel Tunstill had her original 2017 conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after judges ruled the jury should have been able to consider a verdict of infanticide. However, the second jury reached the same conclusion as the first, finding that the brutal killing was a deliberate act of murder rather than a result of a disturbed mind following childbirth.
The court heard that on January 14, 2017, Rachel Tunstill gave birth in the bathroom of her home in Burnley, Lancashire, while claiming to her partner that she was merely suffering a miscarriage. After requesting a pair of scissors, Tunstill used them to inflict 15 stab wounds on the newborn before concealing the body in a bag and placing it in a kitchen bin. Two days later, Rachel Tunstill sought medical attention at Burnley General Hospital, falsely claiming she had miscarried at nine weeks. Still, a physical examination proved she had carried a baby to full term.
Investigation into the digital history of Rachel Tunstill revealed a disturbing premeditation; she had searched for “how to end a pregnancy late” and researched notorious killers such as Mick Philpott. The prosecution highlighted her interest in how “psychopaths” mimic emotion, noting she had watched footage of Philpott crying on television after murdering his six children. While in custody at HMP Styal, Tunstill claimed to hear voices comparing her to serial killer Rose West, though medical experts scrutinised these claims during the trial.
Mr Justice King sentenced Rachel Tunstill to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. The judge remarked that the killing was a “dreadful and balance-defying” act against a completely defenceless infant. Now serving her life sentence, Rachel Tunstill remains under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice, and the National Probation Service manages her case. Any future consideration for parole after the 17-year minimum term will be subject to a rigorous assessment of the risk she poses to the public and children in the Lancashire area.
Rachel Tunstill was sentenced to life imprisonment (Not really life).
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