Six years into her 17-year-long sentence for stabbing her baby with a pair of scissors, Rachel Tunstill dies in prison.
Back in 2017, she stabbed her baby girl, Mia Kelly, more than 15 times in the bathroom of their Burnley home and threw her lifeless body in a bin.
Tunstill was initially convicted of murder and handed a life sentence with minimum term of 20 years, but a re-trial proved the jury in the case should have been offered a verdict of infanticide to consider. During the re-trial she was once again convicted of murder and put behind bars for a minimum of 17 years.
“HMP Styal prisoner Rachel Tunstill died in custody on 1 August 2023. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate,” a spokesperson from the Prison Service confirmed the news of her passing.
At the time she gave birth, her boyfriend was playing video games in the next room. She then told him she had a miscarriage and asked for the scissors after which she remorselessly stabbed the baby to death.
At the time of sentencing, the judge, Mr Justice King, said: “This must have been a sustained and frenzied attack on a victim who because of her age was particularly vulnerable. Her duty to her newborn baby was to cradle and comfort her – not to stab her to death.
“There was here in my judgement concealment of the body, albeit short-lived and in addition there was undoubtedly the indignity which was wrought upon the body by disposing of it in the way she did.”
Credit: Liverpool Echo
Tunstill was a university master’s graduate in forensic psychology.
“She showed no emotion or remorse for stabbing her baby to death,” said Mr Justice King.
At 72, Jane Seymour proudly showcases her twin sons, whom she welcomed at 44, calling them “handsome young men”
Beyond her illustrious career as an actress, Seymour is also an accomplished author and a devoted mother. Her journey through motherhood has been filled with both challenges and joys, particularly in raising twin sons.
The actress, who has been married and divorced four times, is the proud mother of Katherine, 42, and Sean Flynn, 39, from her union with David Flynn. Additionally, she shares twin sons, John Stacy and Kristopher Steven, 28, with filmmaker James Keach.
Seymour has openly discussed her struggles on the path to motherhood. In an interview with People, she shared how in-vitro fertilization led to two miscarriages, almost leading her and her then-husband to give up hope. However, her third pregnancy at the age of 44 was a success, resulting in the birth of her twin boys.
The twins arrived six weeks early through an emergency C-section due to pre-eclampsia, presenting a host of challenges right from the start. Reflecting on this difficult experience in an interview with Loose Women, she stated: “I nearly died having them, and the babies nearly died”.
Despite the risks, Seymour expressed no regrets about her decision to have children, affirming: “I’m very glad I had them”. The early days were particularly crucial, as both boys required close monitoring due to health issues. At one point, Johnny even turned blue after returning home, necessitating another hospital visit for close observation of his breathing and swallowing.
To ensure she was fully present in their lives, Seymour made choices that allowed her to include her children in her work. As they grew, the twins formed a strong bond, often sharing a crib and later a bed.
Recently, Seymour delighted fans with a touching photo of herself alongside her now-adult twin sons, who have grown tall and handsome. Comments flooded in, praising both the boys and their mother: “Love this Jane. The boys are so handsome, and you look beautiful”, one fan wrote. Others added: “Two handsome men! And a beautiful mother!” and “Your boys are handsome”.
Seymour’s experience as a mother of twins, marked by both hardships and joys, showcases the profound strength of a mother’s love. As her sons stand tall beside her, she continues to celebrate the blessings of parenthood and the lasting impact of family.
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