From Sky TV in Britain via Fox News:A mother who murdered her four-year-old daughter because she was "ashamed" of her disability has been jailed for at least 15 years.
Joanne Hill, 32, drowned Naomi, (both pictured) who had mild cerebral palsy. Hill admitted to killing Naomi on Nov. 26 last year at the family home.
During a two-week trial at Chester Crown Court a jury heard that hard-drinking Hill was ashamed of Naomi's condition, which meant the little girl had to use calipers to help her walk.A tape recording of her police interview was played to the court, in which Hill recounted in detail how she drowned her daughter in the family bath.
She then took Naomi's body, dressed her body and put her in the family car.
Hill, who had been drinking wine all afternoon, then drove around between Deeside and Chester for eight hours, stopping to refuel on wine and gasoline as her dead daughter remained in the back seat.
Judge Elgan Edwards sentenced Hill to life in prison - to serve a minimum term of 15 years.
"You killed your own daughter because you could not cope with her disability," he said."You had other pressures upon you, a disintegrating marriage and you decided to kill your own daughter by drowning her.
"This has been a very sad case. Sad for you, for your husband, for the child you killed."
Hill was taken straight to prison, rather than returned to a secure unit, because of her murder conviction.
But the judge commented on her "sad" history of mental health problems and said he hoped she would be transferred back to hospital very soon.
Naomi's father Simon Hill, 38, sat with relatives in the public gallery to hear the verdict.
Afterwards, Mr Hill, who works for a car rental company, read a statement to reporters describing Naomi as his "best friend" and "little princess".
"It has been said in court that Naomi suffered with cerebral palsy. This is not true. Naomi did not suffer at all," he said.
"She lived life to the full and was an inspiration to us all. Naomi took everything in her stride and enjoyed doing everything that four-year-olds do, if only slightly slower.
"Joanne is a non-swimmer with a fear of water. To be held under water is her biggest fear.
"What she did to my princess Naomi was evil."
