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20/05/2013
Mairead Philpott To Appeal Sentence
Mairead Philpott, who was jailed last month for killing her six children in a house fire, is planning to appeal her sentence, Sky News has said.
The 32-year-old was sentence to 17 years in prison for her part in the tragedy. Alongside her husband Mick, she was found guilty for the manslaughter of their children.
The couple took part in a plan to set fire to their family home in Derby last May in an attempt to frame Mick Philpott's former mistress.
Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, defence barrister Shaun Smith QC confirmed that lawyers were planning to take the case to the Court of Appeal.
Mr Smith, who represented her during the trial, described the 17-year jail term as "too long".
He claimed: "We think it was too long and we are going to the Court of Appeal to see whether or not we can persuade the Court of Appeal to reduce the sentence.
"She was instrumental in killing six children, but we feel as though her role in the killing of the six children was not as substantial as the trial judge has assessed.
"We'll have to wait and see what the Court of Appeal say. It may well be that the Court of Appeal give us short shrift."
Mr Smith added that Mairead Philpott was "very scared" and "very vulnerable".
He said: "She was clearly someone who had been in a horrendous relationship, as the court heard.
"She was someone who quite frankly was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"It was a very upsetting case for everybody involved and I think it took a little piece out of me at the end of the day."
Mairead Philpott's husband was jailed for life last month with a minimum term of 15 years, while their friend Paul Mosley, who was also involved, was handed a 17-year sentence.
Following the trial, Derbyshire Police said none of the defendants had shown any remorse for killing the children, who were aged between five and 13.
(JP/MH)
The 32-year-old was sentence to 17 years in prison for her part in the tragedy. Alongside her husband Mick, she was found guilty for the manslaughter of their children.
The couple took part in a plan to set fire to their family home in Derby last May in an attempt to frame Mick Philpott's former mistress.
Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, defence barrister Shaun Smith QC confirmed that lawyers were planning to take the case to the Court of Appeal.
Mr Smith, who represented her during the trial, described the 17-year jail term as "too long".
He claimed: "We think it was too long and we are going to the Court of Appeal to see whether or not we can persuade the Court of Appeal to reduce the sentence.
"She was instrumental in killing six children, but we feel as though her role in the killing of the six children was not as substantial as the trial judge has assessed.
"We'll have to wait and see what the Court of Appeal say. It may well be that the Court of Appeal give us short shrift."
Mr Smith added that Mairead Philpott was "very scared" and "very vulnerable".
He said: "She was clearly someone who had been in a horrendous relationship, as the court heard.
"She was someone who quite frankly was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"It was a very upsetting case for everybody involved and I think it took a little piece out of me at the end of the day."
Mairead Philpott's husband was jailed for life last month with a minimum term of 15 years, while their friend Paul Mosley, who was also involved, was handed a 17-year sentence.
Following the trial, Derbyshire Police said none of the defendants had shown any remorse for killing the children, who were aged between five and 13.
(JP/MH)
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