Mum who tried to poison her children placed on good-behaviour bond

Feb 10 2009

An Australian woman who tried to poison her two children last year has been placed on a good-behaviour bond after pleading guilty to the charge of intending to harm them.

The 41-year-old from Port Stephens in New South Wales was found guilty of trying to give her children crushed up anti-depressants in January last year, she was ordered to report to James Fletcher Hospital, where she will undergo treatment with the Hunter Valley Community Mental Health Team.

The Newcastle District Court heard the woman had been released from Maitland Hospital two weeks before the incident and was allegedly denied treatment the day before the offence.

She was apparently sent home from the hospital on January 24th, 2008, and the next day mixed a dangerous cocktail of her medication into three glasses of orange juice for her self and her children, aged 11 and 9 - both were called into the home, the door was locked and the mother then told them she wanted them to die together. Fortunately both children ran to neighbours for help.

Judge Ralph Coolahan said there was no doubt the woman was suffering from a severe mental condition, having been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder at the end of 2007 - the woman had been taking anti-depressant medication since being diagnosed with psychosis in 2003.

The mother was released from custody after a judge found that she no longer posed a threat to herself or the community - she had pleaded not guilty to the more serious charges of attempted murder.