A MOTHER found guilty of poisoning her own baby with a powerful painkiller murdered out of a craving for attention, a judge told her yesterday.
Michelle Smith, 34, of Swansea, was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 12 years for the murder of six-week-old Amy.
A jury found her unanimously guilty of murdering the defenceless baby at home in Morriston in November 2007.
The tiny 42-day-old baby was repeatedly poisoned with the powerful painkiller dihydrocodeine. It is never used on babies.
Judge Mr Justice Spencer briefly adjourned the Swansea Crown Court trial to collect his thoughts before passing sentence. He told a sobbing Smith her actions involved a "substantial premeditation".
He added: "The giving of this drug to Amy required, as it must have done, the crushing of tablet or tablets involving a significant degree or planning and premeditation. In all probability you were in some way craving and seeking attention by presenting Amy to the doctors at hospital."
Amy was urgently taken to hospital on three separate occasions during her brief life.
On November 9, 2007, Amy was judged to be "thriving" by a health visitor who saw her at home.
Afterwards, she was fed and put to bed and discovered collapsed just 60 minutes later. That triggered a third and final dash to hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
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