A MOTHER who was given a life sentence for murdering her baby son will not have her case reviewed.

Silipa Keresi must serve at least nine years in prison for the killing of her child, 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.

Earlier this month she had her case referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

This could have seen her sentence increased.

But a spokesperson confirmed the case will not be heard in the Court of Appeal: “This was a tragic, and deeply sad case. However, after careful consideration the Attorney General has concluded that this case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.

Silipa Keresi

Silipa Keresi

"A referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to the Court of Appeal can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient but unduly so, such that the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range of sentences reasonably available in the circumstances of the offence. The threshold is a high one, and the test was not met in this case.”

As reported by the Daily Echo, Keresi 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 Malaki after “snapping” over the stresses of applying for permission to stay in the UK while struggling to support her family, the jury heard.