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Jury issue verdict in Lucy King case of mother whose daughter died after drinking heroin substitute

A mother has been jailed for three and a half years after being found guilty of causing the death of her two-year-old daughter.

The jury, of six men and six women, reached a manslaughter verdict by a 10-2 majority following 10 hours and 15 minutes of deliberations.

Lucy King was in tears and had her head in her hands as the decision was announced.

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Lucy King
Lucy King

Her daughter Frankie Hedgecock died after drinking a heroin substitute that she had left in a cup on floor at her home in Dover.

King’s QC Oliver Saxby said in mitigation: “Remorse doesn’t begin to describe what the mother feels in this situation.”

Judge Jeremy Carey said in sentencing her for gross negligence manslaughter: “Plainly, you had a duty to care for your two-year-old daughter Frankie.

VIDEO : King's been sent to prison for three-and-a-half years

"Plainly, you were in breach of that duty by your inaction on that fateful day.

"For you knew there was a very real likelihood that she had drunk your methadone script, and there is an abundance of evidence to show just that.

"And you took a chance in the hope this would not come back on you with potentially appalling consequences for you and your family.

"The jury was also satisfied, as the evidence plainly showed, your breach of duty was a significant cause of Frankie’s death.

Judge Jeremy Carey
Judge Jeremy Carey

"Indeed, had you acted as you should have done, and as any right-minded parent would have done, the emergency services would have been called and should have been called straight away.

"Had they been called straight away, the overwhelming probability is Frankie would have been saved with the available assistance of paramedics and skill of hospital staff, as well as the appropriate drug treatment.

“The jury’s verdict is, therefore, that your conduct that day was truly reprehensible conduct deserving of criminal sanction.

“So it is, only an immediate custodial sentence in this court’s judgement can be justified.

“There is in this case a loss of life and that must be reflected in the sentence and length of sentence - and that prison sentence that marks the gravity of this crime.

“I have no doubt having heard the evidence you were generally a loving, caring mother.

"This was an isolated incident but one which had calamitous consequences for which you are responsible.”

"Had you acted as you should have done, and as any right-minded parent would have done, the emergency services would have been called straight away" - Judge Jeremy Carey

King will serve half the sentence before being released on licence.

Judge Carey told jurors: “It sounds trite, but I mean it every time I say it, that no one takes any pleasure at all from a guilty verdict.

“If they do, then clearly they should not be involved in the criminal justice system. Having said that, I understand your verdict.”

Speaking after the verdict, Libby Clark, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This was an extremely unusual case.

"To ensure Lucy King was convicted of manslaughter, the CPS needed to prove that her actions amounted to gross negligence, which led to the death of her daughter.

"Lucy King had measured her methadone into a measuring cup where it was found and consumed by her young child.

"She then failed to report what had happened for almost two and a half hours.

"This was a key element of the CPS’ case, as was the fact the defendant had signed a safe storage agreement, which included keeping the medication out of the reach of children.

"In addition to this, she had been given a leaflet, which made it clear that if there was any suspicion a child had taken methadone, emergency services should be called immediately.

"After Frankie had taken the methadone, Lucy King was able to spend time chatting to her friends on Facebook."

An NSPCC spokesman said: "This is a very sad case and it beggars belief that a parent would leave such a dangerous substance in reach of a child.

"It's distressing that King didn't call emergency services the moment she believed that her daughter was in danger and as her mother, she should have been protecting her child from harm.

"If anyone has any concerns about a child, they can call the NSPCC Helpline 24/7 on 0808 800 5000 or if a child is in immediate danger, call 999."

King had put the liquid in a measuring behind the television the night before she was due to take it.

Floral tributes were left out side a house in De Burgh Street, Dover
Floral tributes were left out side a house in De Burgh Street, Dover

She was later distressed to discover the two-year-old could have drunk the liquid.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the mum-of-five failed to call the emergency services to the house in De Burgh Street until two-and-a-half hours later.

“If you look at the evidence, this child was not well at all,” said prosecutor Rowan Jenkins.

“Why when Lucy King knew or believed her two-year-old child had accidentally drunk a dangerous prescription drug did she fail to do the simplest and most sensible thing - get some help?

“What stopped her? Had she done so before the methadone had taken hold she might have been saved, the prosecution say.”

King, 39, now of London Road, Dover, denied manslaughter and an alternative charge of child cruelty.

Mr Jenkins said King previously had issues with heroin and had been prescribed methadone for a number of years.

When her friend Paul Norris arrived at about 9.40am on Friday, June 5 2015 Frankie was seemingly asleep on the sofa.

“Everything seemed normal,” said Mr Jenkins. “She (King) proceeded to be her normal cheerful self. Nothing seemed out of order at all.”

A bottle of methadone. Stock image
A bottle of methadone. Stock image

Mr Norris was going to take them shopping in the town but after they chatted for about 20 minutes King went to pick up Frankie and said: “She is not moving.”

The child was floppy and her lips had turned blue. “Something was seriously wrong,” said Mr Jenkins. “The mother became very distraught.”

Mr Norris called the emergency services at 9.53am. He and King were given advice about resuscitation.

Paramedics arrived quickly to see King with her fingers in Frankie’s mouth. She was pale and unconscious and not breathing.

King showed a paramedic a measuring cup she had poured about 15ml of methadone into.

Efforts were made to revive Frankie. She was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, but declared dead at 11.04am.

“Methadone is a dangerous drug,” said Mr Jenkins. “It is prescribed in bottles in strictly measured and liquid doses.”

King had been prescribed 96ml a day. It had to be taken under supervision and she would go to Boots the chemist to do so.

The child died in De Burgh Street, Dover. Picture: Google
The child died in De Burgh Street, Dover. Picture: Google

The exception was weekends when the service was closed. She was allowed on a Friday to take home the medication for the next two days under strict rules.

King had not yet collected her prescription on the Friday but had been buying “top ups” from a friend, added Mr Jenkins.

The jury of six men and six women was sent home for the night after deliberating for most of the day.

Earlier, they asked in a note: "Is there any further clarification you can give us of gross negligence? Any examples of gross negligence, or just negligence.

But Judge Jeremy Carey replied: "It is not appropriate for me to give you examples of what is capable of being gross negligence and what is not, and what is or what it may be.

"This case depends upon its own particular features. It is a pure question of fact for you to decide. Disappointed you may be at that response, it must be the response.

"It is fact specific and it is for you to decide according to the directions I have given you."

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