A MOTHER who was jailed for life for murdering her baby son has had her case referred to the Court of Appeal.

Silipa Keresi must serve at least nine years in prison for the murder of her son, Malaki.

The 38-year-old of Pylewell Road wrapped him in a towel and left him in woods near Shore Road, Hythe in March 2020.

But now - her case has been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

This means that her jail term could be considered unreasonably low and therefore increased.

Her sentence could, however, stay the same.

Keresi's case is said to be in the early stages of the appeal process.

As reported by the Daily Echo, she was jailed for life in December last year after being found guilty of murder following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

She denied the murder and the alternate charge of infanticide.

In sentencing, Mr Justice Garnham QC said: “The abandonment of Malakai was an act of desperation by a vulnerable woman, facing challenging circumstances. The emotional effect of your giving birth outdoors and unaccompanied was profound.”

Winchester Crown Court previously heard that during Keresi’s pregnancy several services including midwives and Mrs Keresi’s GP had tried to contact her.

Prosecution barrister, Kerry Maylin, said: “All of these agencies were trying to contact Mrs Keresi.

“She had a consultation with a midwife to discuss the possibility of termination in November 2019.

“She had thought she was about 12 weeks pregnant, but results indicated she was 26 weeks and five days pregnant - over the gestation date limit for a lawful termination."

The Fijian national murdered Malachi after “snapping” over the stresses of applying for permission to stay in the UK while struggling to support her family, the jury heard.