Young mother admits infanticide
Alexander Lee Gallon died from a combination of smoke inhalation and burns
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Tuesday, 29, Aug 2006 06:19
A 22-year-old single mother has pleaded guilty to starting a fire in her house in Cowgate last year that led to the death of her four-month-old baby.
Danielle Wails admitted infanticide at Newcastle crown court but denied murder, a plea that was accepted on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
She had initially claimed that the blaze that killed Alexander Lee Gallon at Link Road on August 28th last year had been started by two masked assailants, who after gaining entry to the property had beaten her and tied her hands with telephone cord.
Wails told emergency services when they arrived that she had dialled using her tongue, but rescuers were unable to save Alexander, who died from smoke inhalation and burns.
Detective Superintendent Barbara Franklin of Northumbria police said: "From the outset we had reservations about Danielle's claims about two masked men beating her up and causing her baby's death. But we were determined to find out the truth and this meant keeping an open mind and conducting a thorough and professional investigation into all lines of enquiry.
Det Supt Franklin explained that despite continued appeals, house to house enquiries and significant media coverage, police were "unable to discover any evidence that these men existed".
Subsequent searches of the property, in which Wails and her son lived by themselves, found batteries from smoke alarms had been removed and the only set of house keys discovered in an upstairs drawer, which cast doubt over the mother's claim that the masked men had locked her in.
Forensic examiners also concluded that the Wails' injuries could have easily been self-inflicted and that the telephone cord had not been sufficiently wrapped to impede hand movement.
"Danielle's whole version of events was gradually crumbling away. Although she maintained her story, evidence was mounting which soon disproved it. All the evidence pointed to the fact that Danielle was the only one who could have done this dreadful act," added Det Supt Franklin.