Billy Haigh Killed by his mother

4:05pm UK, Monday November 03, 2008
A mother has been handed a life sentence for smothering her three-year-old son to death.


Tara Haigh murdered her son with a pillow then within hours tried to find a boyfriend online, the Old Bailey heard.

The 24-year-old will serve a minimum term of 10 years in jail for her son Billy's death at their home in Guildford, Surrey.

Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, said: "An examination of the computer showed that within a few hours of her son's death, she was accessing messages sent to her by men on the website Girls Date Free."

Haigh arranged a date with one man after posting a message on the website saying her son had died from a tumour behind the ear.

At the time of the murder, in November 2005, Billy's father was in prison for assaulting Haigh, who has learning difficulties.

Judge Peter Thornton QC said it was not clear why Haigh had killed Billy.

"The circumstances of Billy's death do not bear thinking about. He would have struggled for his life, fighting against his mother whom he had loved and trusted, until he was overpowered by your superior strength and will.

"You were, I accept, a good and loving parent doing the best you could.

"There was no accusation of cruelty and losing your child, all be it by your own hand, must have been a punishment for you."

After the case, Detective Inspector Jo Sidaway said: "Tara Haigh saw her son as an inconvenience to the life of socialising and dating that she wanted to lead.

"Her inability to put Billy's needs ahead of her own culminated in her taking his life prematurely.

"The death of a child in any circumstances is incredibly sad. However, the murder of someone so young by the one person who should be caring for them most has been an upsetting and thankfully unusual crime to investigate."