She was serving life in prison for the murder of her newborn
A mum who stabbed her newborn baby to death with a pair of scissors has died in prison.
Rachel Tunstill was twice jailed for life for the murder of her daughter Mia Kelly – the second sentence being handed down in 2019.
The Prison Service confirmed today (1/8) that Tunstill, who was housed at HMP Styal in Cheshire, had died.
A spokesperson said: “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.”
The circumstances around the death are currently unknown.
Tunstill was first found guilty of murder in June 2017. She was handed life in prison.
But that conviction was quashed a year later by the Court of Appeal after judges ruled lesser charges should have been considered.
Tunstill then faced a retrial and was again found guilty of murder in February 2019.
She was again sentenced to life with a minimum of 17 years.
Liverpool crown court heard Tunstill gave birth while her unsuspecting boyfriend played computer games in the next room in January 2017.
She told him she was having a miscarriage and asked him for scissors before stabbing Mia 14 times just after she was born, it was said.
She then dumped the body in a bin.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been approached for a comment.
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