Donna Anthony
Years in prison:
6
Year of crime:
1996, 1997
Year conviction was overturned:
2005
Donna Anthony was convicted of the murders of her two children who both died as infants. Anthony’s husband believed she had been suffering from post-natal depression. At trial Roy Meadow testified that he believed Anothony had smothered her children. On appeal, Professor Meadow’s evidence was shown to be incorrect, and it was concluded that an unnatural death was not the only conclusion that could be drawn.
< Back to Case Search < Back to Overview Graph- Offence: Murder
- Jurisdiction: England & Wales
- County: Somerset
- Ethnicity: White
- Gender: F
- Years in prison: 6
- Offence convicted of: Double Murder
- Year of crime: 1996, 1997
- Year of initial conviction: 1998
- Year conviction was overturned: 2005
- Age when imprisoned: 25
- CCRC Referral: Y
- Tried with others: N
- Link to full case: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2005/952.html
- Type of fresh evidence at appeal: Evidence undermining forensic science
- Compensation: Yes
- Link to compensation: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1247053/She-lost-babies-spent-seven-years-jail-cleared-murders-But-Donna-Anthony-says-shell-seen-child-killer.html
- Crown argued case at CofA: No
- Retrial: No
- Previous appeals: Unsuccessful appeal in 2000