Woman who left paralysed sister to die avoids jail

A woman who killed her paralysed sister by leaving her in "toxic" and "appalling" conditions has avoided jail.

Kelly Neill, 48, who was disabled following a stroke in January 2018, died in October 2022 after developing sepsis from bed sores while under the care of 55-year-old Michelle Neill at their home in Deptford, south-east London.

The defendant - who previously admitted manslaughter by gross negligence - sobbed in the dock as her nephew branded her "pure evil" for failing to look after his mother.

Describing it as a "highly unusual and exceptionally distressing" case, Old Bailey Judge Richard Marks KC sentenced her to a three-year prison sentence, suspended for three years.

The Old Bailey heard how Michelle Neill took over the care of Kelly, who had previously worked as a stroke nurse, following the death of their mother.

At the time of Kelly's death, there had been no visits from a GP or social services for "many months", prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC said.

He described how she died from a blood infection after contracting severe bed sores while living in unsanitary conditions.

After an ambulance was called on the morning of 20 October 2022, paramedics found the victim on the floor of the living room in dirty conditions, surrounded by decay and clutter.

She was distressed and unable to speak, Orchard said.

She was taken to St Thomas' Hospital in south London, where she died on 23 October.

Prior to her death, Kelly Neill's son Jake Neill-Knight had argued with his aunt over her care and told her that his mother needed to be in a home.

But the defendant disagreed and controlled access to the house, the court heard.

Reading a victim impact statement in court, Neill-Knight described the devastating loss of his mother in "harrowing" circumstances.

He said his mother had been "stolen" in a "disgusting manner" with her "dignity stripped and her body defiled".

He told the court: "I can't even begin to imagine how anybody could walk past a person or ignore someone in my mum's condition leading up to her death.

"I'd help a random stranger if they were in that way, so a family member, no sane person would do what my aunt has done to a member of their family.

"My mum wasn't just someone Michelle cared for or a job she was getting paid for. No, my mum was her only sister, her little sister."

He added: "She was supposed to look after her. Protect her. Her own flesh and blood, that she walked past for God knows how many days before calling an ambulance.

"How could you do that...? That is pure evil."

Mitigating, Jennifer Dempster KC said the defendant had expressed "genuine remorse" and that she would never forgive herself for what happened.

Judge Marks said he acknowledged that Michelle Neill, who suffered anxiety and depression, was "completely unable" to care for her sister and "incapable of seeking help".

The judge said he would suspend her sentence due to her personal mitigation and because she was not likely to reoffend.

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