In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Abigail Palmer, then 33, of Redfern Close, Solihull, West Midlands, was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison. On Thursday, 4 April 2019, Palmer appeared at Birmingham Crown Court for the manslaughter and wounding of her two-month-old daughter, Teri-Rae.
The investigation established that Teri-Rae, who was born on 24 October 2016, weighing just 4lb 7oz, died on 2 January 2017. While Palmer claimed she woke up on the sofa to find her baby “blue and lifeless,” a “vile” forensic examination revealed a pattern of “serious” non-accidental injuries. Experts used state-of-the-art 3D micro-CT scanning to identify 10 rib fractures that had occurred over an extended period, including “vicious” fresh injuries inflicted on the day of the child’s death.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Palmer crushed her daughter with such force that her ribs snapped and buckled. Jonas Hankin QC, prosecuting, emphasised that the injuries were inflicted by “forceful compression” of the chest, likely to stop the baby from crying. The investigation revealed that Palmer, who had a history of substance abuse and had tested positive for cocaine during pregnancy, had been seen “secretly” drinking wine in a pub on New Year’s Day, in breach of her Child Protection Plan.
Mrs Justice Lambert emphasised that a custodial sentence was “inevitable” for the “heart-breaking” betrayal of parental duty. The judge noted that Teri-Rae was in her mother’s sole care and that the “fresh” fractures caused progressive respiratory failure and asphyxia. The prosecution emphasised that Palmer had “deliberately” hidden the baby’s injuries from health visitors and social workers by avoiding appointments.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For her crimes in Solihull, West Midlands, Abigail Palmer was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 13 years and six months in immediate custody.
- Convictions: Found guilty of manslaughter and wounding.
- Licence: Subject to standard release and licence conditions after serving her term.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Palmer is managed by the National Probation Service and West Midlands Police. Her history of drug and alcohol abuse, combined with the “vicious” killing of her vulnerable infant, means her status remains under “stringent” scrutiny.
Authorities state that the “serious” nature of the force used and the attempts to deceive medical professionals are “critical” factors in her risk management. Any breach of her licence conditions following her eventual release from prison will result in her immediate return to Birmingham Crown Court. The police emphasised that the use of advanced 3D scanning was “vital” in proving the “horrific” truth that Palmer had “systematically” abused her daughter before her death.
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