Mother loses appeal over 'living hell' son

Frances Inglis, 58, of Dagenham, east London, was jailed for life with a minimum term of nine years at the Old Bailey in January.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal in London yesterday rejected her conviction challenge, but reduced the minimum period she must serve before becoming eligible to apply for parole to five years. After her conviction her family said they were standing by her over the death of her 22-year-old son Tom.

Inglis was not present for the ruling.

Referring to the fact that Inglis had not lost her self-control, Lord Judge said all the evidence was to the contrary. It demonstrated she had applied her mind to her objective, "which was to kill her son, and that she did so with scrupulous and meticulous care, and that in doing so she fulfilled her long-standing objective".

He added: "Of course, we accept that the appellant is a decent woman, of positive good character, and that acts of violence of any kind, let alone fatal or potentially fatal actions, were quite outside her normal character.

"However, in relation to her son and his injuries, she was resolved that she should relieve him of his suffering. When she did so, she knew exactly what she was doing, and why she was doing it, and how it was to be done, and how it was imperative that its success should be assured."

The judges ruled that her appeal against conviction was "not arguable".