A 42-year-old mother has been handed a four-year prison sentence after admitting manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility over the death of her two-year-old daughter in East Hampshire.
Tragic Death Shakes Kingsley Community
Two-year-old Annabel Mackey was found unresponsive at Kingsley Pond in September 2023. Despite frantic attempts to save her, she died the next day in hospital.
Emergency services were called at 5.02pm on Sunday 10 September after Annabel went missing from her home on Forge Road. She was found moments later but tragically could not be saved.
Mother Admits Manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court
Annabel’s mother, Alice Mackey, 42, from Oakhanger, was arrested and charged with murder. However, in court she pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
Heartfelt tributes poured out from family members during the hearing, painting a picture of a bright, loving little girl deeply missed by all who knew her.
Family Heartbreak: “A Little Treasure Stolen”
“I am tormented by imagining how frightened she must have been,” said Annabel’s father, Peter. “She had so much empathy. She was so caring, happy, and positive.”
Her aunt Jennifer shared, “This grief is not something I can walk through or leave behind; it will always be in front of me, preventing me, and behind me, dragging me back.”
Grandfather Keith recalled, “She was a treasure. Her life was stolen from her.”
Grandmother Pammie added, “I trusted the person who was supposed to be caring for her, and that trust was destroyed.”
Police Hail Investigation and Justice for Annabel
Detective Chief Inspector Howard Broadribb said: “No child should ever face danger from those closest to them. We have secured justice for Annabel and her family.”
The relentless detectives pieced together the tragic events leading up to Annabel’s death. While the sentence cannot undo the loss, it brings painful closure to her loved ones.
