Killing your child

I read this account about a mother who walked free after killing her 11 year old autistic child. I quote:

Yvonne Freaney, 50, admitted she killed her son Glen, 11, with a coat belt in an airport hotel room.

Freaney told police she killed Glen so "no one could point fingers at him" when he was in heaven.

Mother-of-four Freaney also tried to kill herself but botched her attempts to slash her wrists - and was found alive by ambulance crews.

She was cleared of murder but admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams allowed her to walk free with a supervision order.

He said it was "the most difficult sentencing" he had ever had in his career.

Mr Justice Wyn Williams told her: "You have already been punished enough.

"The only sensible and credible explanation is that your state of mind was truly abnormal.

"At the end you genuinely but irrationally believed that no-one but you could care for Glen and, since you were intent on killing himself, you had to kill him first.

"Not withstanding the fact that your crime was to kill a child, your culpability was very low.

"There could be no doubts you were completely devoted to Glen throughout his short life and showered him with love and affection.

"You cared for him with the best of your ability, day in and day out. He was very demanding but you never let that deflect from putting his best interests above those of your own."

I really dont think anybody can blame her. But for some reason, i keep on thinking about abortion. And yes, I know about the issue of when the foetus is viable and all that. But abortion is legal and I do think its fine. But the difference between a mother killing her say 8 month old foetus and a 11 year old child is a bit difficult to swallow. If this mother was not found to be mentally disturbed and suffering from a personality disorder, she would have been jailed. And the exact same mother will not be charged with anything if she terminates her baby. Don't know, but something doesn't gel in my mind.