Southern Thompson was convicted of the neglect and fatal abuse of her 18-month-old daughter, Comfort Thompson-Pene.
Thompson sought to reduce her minimum imprisonment period (MPI) from 17 years, arguing it was excessively harsh given her remorse and difficult upbringing. Thompson’s neglect included confining Comfort to her cot, failing to provide proper nourishment, and inflicting multiple injuries, culminating in a fatal brain injury in Tirau in July 2018. After fleeing before her initial trial, Thompson eventually pled guilty but challenged the 17-year MPI, citing her ‘troubled background’ and claimed remorse.
The Court of Appeal, however, upheld the original sentence, stating that despite acknowledging Thompson’s disadvantaged background and its influence on her actions, the severity of her crimes warranted the imposed sentence.
The justices emphasised the extreme nature of the abuse and neglect, resulting in Comfort’s death, overshadowed any mitigating factors. They noted that while her personal history and the complex domestic environment were considered, they could not outweigh the gravity of the offenses committed against a vulnerable child.
I would not be able to live with myself personally if I did this to my child, not that I would in a million years. Do you time and contemplate what you have done, rather than seeking a softer outcome.