Father given suspended sentence for killing depressed daughter

A father who helped his severely depressed daughter to die
received a two-year suspended prison sentence.

Maidstone crown court heard that James Lawson had smothered
22-year-old Sarah after she was told to leave Homefields
Psychiatric Hospital in Worthing for allegedly passing cannabis to
another patient. Sarah had a history of manic depression and
attempted suicide.

Last month Sarah’s mother told Community Care her
daughter was ‘absolutely let down’ by the social care
system, as well as the health service.