A Perth mother, jailed for at least 13 years for allowing her son to drown in a harbour, was too self-absorbed to realise the harm caused by her impulsive decision-making, a court has heard.
Gemma Gaye Killeen, 23, was sentenced in the West Australian Supreme Court today to life in prison with a minimum of 13 years to be served before she is eligible for parole.
She had pleaded guilty to murdering her 22-month-old son, Tereringa Wetere, known as Kayden, who was found floating in Hillarys Boat Harbour on November 26, 2010.
In sentencing, Justice Stephen Hall said there was no doubt that Killeen would be "forever blighted" by her decisions that day, despite not intending to kill or harm her son.
Justice Hall said Killeen's plea was accepted because she had put her son in danger by placing him near the water, knowing that he could not swim, as part of a plan to falsely report that he had been abducted.
"You were so self-absorbed that you could think only of trying to obtain attention by creating a drama," he said.
The court heard Killeen was in a relationship with her son's father, Eddie Wetere, but the two often fought about who would care for their son because they both wanted to go out with friends.
They had had a fight the night before the boy's death and Mr Wetere did not respond to text messages sent by Killeen the next day while he was at work, the court heard.
Justice Hall said after Killeen left her son near the water, she drove a short distance and told passers-by that her son had gone missing from his pram as she was putting something in the car.
"You also suggested that someone might have taken Kayden. You gave the appearance of being upset," he said.
A couple taking their daily walk found the boy floating in the water and tried to resuscitate him.
"It is very likely that he was already deceased when he was pulled from the water," Justice Hall said.
"This was despite the valiant efforts of the couple who found and sought to rescue him."
Justice Hall said it was beyond belief that Killeen could leave her son at the water's edge and drive away without her motherly emotions drawing her back to rescue him.
"I have concluded that your actions were impulsive and stemmed from your anger following your failed attempts to contact Mr Wetere in the time shortly before the events in question," he said.
"However, even though no significant planning was involved, your actions were nonetheless deliberate and you did not seek to prevent the consequences, despite opportunities to do so."
Justice Hall noted that Killeen only admitted to the police what she had done when she was confronted with video footage.
Her sentence was backdated to November 25, 2010.
