Free Mothers Who Murder by Xanthe Mallett Page A

syndrome, 2) sepsis, 3) airway infections, 4) asphyxia, and 5) trauma. In this study, internal petechial bleedings were observed in everygroup, with a reduced frequency in cases of trauma. The paper concluded that detection of internal petechial bleedings at post-mortem can be a suspicious finding suggestive of possible asphyxia. However, because of the possible natural origin of these bleedings, the medico-legal investigation has to be as complete as possible and has to include histology as mandatory. As Sarah’s death was originally attributed to SIDS, a full, forensic post-mortem was not undertaken, and it is therefore impossible to rule out a natural cause for these findings. It is also important to note that these haemorrhages are not positive findings for intentional smothering – at post-mortem there are no findings that point to intentional smothering as the only cause of death. So it is not possible that the medical evidence could support this conclusion above all others. How then could the medics called by the Crown reach such a conclusion? Finally, Laura’s post-mortem was also inconclusive, and the forensic pathologist who conducted the investigation, Dr Cala, admitted that had it not been for the family history he would have concluded that Laura died of myocarditis.
    It is important to note that, in this examination of the children’s causes of death, in every case there was a documented medical condition. It was the coincidence of the four deaths that led to suspicion. But coincidence does not equal guilt, although the jury appears to have thought it did.
    ANOTHER ASPECT TO CONSIDER?
    I’m really concerned with the diary entries Kathleen made, and not in the same way the police and jury were concerned. To me, each of the entries the Crownfelt probative in terms of illustrating Kathleen’s guilt of intentionally harming her children could equally demonstrate two other possibilities: 1) Kathleen was simply a frightened mother; or 2) that Kathleen was suffering from post-natal depression or – more likely at this stage – post-natal psychosis. And it’s the second possibility that I find most compelling. Post-natal psychosis, which I outlined in Chapter 2 when looking at the scenario surrounding Azaria Chamberlain’s disappearance, affects around one in every 500 mothers. This serious condition can lead to women losing their grasp on reality. All of Kathleen’s symptoms can be explained by this diagnosis, including her mood swings, depression, the fearful and bizarre thoughts noted in her diary, her fears concerning her marriage, her personal insecurities, and her inappropriate responses to the babies as expressed in her diaries. The following quote gives an example:
    26/06/1997:
    Feeling secure, loved, successful and wanted by Craig has helped me. And to a degree, the fact that I don’t wish to die with no one really knowing I was here.
    Looking back at Kathleen’s troubled history, it is possible to see that she may have been a candidate for post-natal problems, as they can be brought on or made worse by psychological factors (the loss of her babies) and a difficult childhood. At Kathleen’s trial in 2003, the court had heard the extent of her childhood trauma. In 1984, when Kathleen was around seventeen, she learnt that her father had murdered her mother, which was described as having a profound effect on her. Kathleenwas assessed by three psychiatrists, one of whom, Dr Giuffrida, came to the conclusion after speaking to Kathleen, reading her diaries, and seeing the documentation from her early years, that something very disturbing happened to Kathleen at around eighteen months old. Dr Giuffrida noted that he thought Kathleen was neglected and subjected to emotional and physical abusive. He thought it likely that her father abused her mother and that Kathleen was exposed to that violence. Dr Giuffrida also thought Kathleen may have been victimised, possibly sexually, by her father. At three years