Oakhanger woman sentenced for killing two-year old daughter

Alice Mackey was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Author: Ellie RobsonPublished 7th Oct 2025

A mum from Oakhanger is beginning a four year prison sentence after admitting to drowning her daughter.

Alice Mackey, 42, of Kingsley, Hampshire, drowned her daughter, Annabel Mackey.

On Sunday 10 September 2023, Mackey called the police to report that Annabel had gone missing, that she had put her to bed and returned an hour later to find she was not there.

A thorough investigation from Hampshire Constabulary showed that Mackey’s account was untrue and that she was responsible for drowning her daughter.

When it became apparent that Mackey had drowned Annabel, she was charged with murder. A decision was later taken that she should be prosecuted for the offence of manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility.

This decision was taken after Mackey had been assessed by three psychiatrists, including a very eminent psychiatrist instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service. The three psychiatrists agreed that Mackey had been suffering from a severe mental health condition at the time she had taken Annabel’s life.

In July 2025, Mackey pleaded guilty to the manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in relation to her daughter’s death.

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