Mum admits killing daughter, 2, after she was found dead in pond after vanishing

A mother has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her "beautiful" daughter after she was found in a pond.

Alice Mackey, 42, of Oakhanger, Hampshire, appeared at Winchester Crown Court following the death of Annabel Mackey. The two-year-old vanished from her home on September 10, 2023. Shortly after, she was found "unresponsive" at Kingsley Pond.

Emergency services raced to the scene and took Annabel to hospital in a serious condition. She sadly died the following day. This week, Alice appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea to a charge of murder. The plea was acceptable to the prosecution as reports by two psychiatrists showed she was in a state of “diminished responsibility” at the time of the incident. Today she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

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Judge Christopher Parker KC adjourned the case for sentencing on October 6 and remanded Mackey in custody until then.

He told the defendant: “There will be a further hearing on October 6, my expectation is that on that date either sentence will take place if in due course the court and counsel are in agreement of the factual basis. Or there will be directions for a further hearing to sort out the factual basis of your plea.”

Hampshire Police earlier said: "We were called at 5.02pm on Sunday, 10 September 2023 to a report two-year-old Annabel Mackey had gone missing from her home on Forge Road in Kingsley. Annabel was found a short time later, unresponsive, at Kingsley Pond."

"She was taken to hospital in a serious condition, where she died on the afternoon of Monday 11 September. Detectives from the Major Crime Team, carried out the investigation into Annabel’s death and her movements before she was located at Kingsley Pond."

In a statement earlier released through police, Annabel’s father, Peter, described her as a "shining star" and said she was "dearly loved". The statement said: "Annabel was a beautiful, positive and very happy little girl. She had an incredibly pure and caring nature that we miss so much.

She loved story time, dogs and her dolly. She enjoyed singing songs and nursery rhymes and had a very sweet tooth. Annabel loved to laugh, she brought so much happiness into our lives. She was dearly loved by her family and friends.

“Thank you to everyone who was a positive influence in her life. Please continue Annabel’s legacy by remembering her and caring for others as much as she did.

"The world needs more people like Annabel to spread positivity and kindness. Annabel, I love you so much, you are a shining star and you will be loved forever.”