Mum who killed her girl to go free
Donella Knox’s crime was described by the judge as a ‘once-in-a-generation case’
Amother convicted of murdering her autistic daughter is to be released on parole less than two years after she was sent to prison. And she has been banned from speaking to media about her time in prison, the murder, or her life.
Donella Knox, 49, was sentenced to four years’ jail after she admitted murdering her daughter Ruby, 20, at their Blenheim home in May 2016.
Knox, a solo mum, killed her daughter after a 20-year battle with her violent outbursts, round-theclock care, poverty, and feelings of being let down by the health system.
At sentencing, Justice Joe Williams called it a “once-in-a-generation case”.
The court heard Ruby had been severely disabled her whole life. In the six months leading up to the killing, she had become even more disruptive and violent.
Sleep-deprived and exhausted, Knox took Ruby to her local hospital’s emergency department 10 times between February and May 2016, saying her daughter was in pain but could not communicate it.
Justice Williams noted that she “felt that the medical fraternity had brushed you off”.
The day of the murder, Knox received a letter from doctors who found “no obvious reason for severe pain”. She took it to mean further surgical assistance was unlikely.
“It seems that this letter was a trigger for your decision to take Ruby’s life,” Justice Williams said.
About 1pm, Knox sedated Ruby with risperidone anti-psychotic medication before placing both hands over her face and nose until her breathing stopped. Knox then went to Blenheim police station and gave a full confession.
She was sentenced on February 4, 2017, and appeared before the Parole Board last week.
The Parole Board report revealed Knox had been due to appear earlier but the hearing was adjourned so a psychological assessment and report could be obtained.
Knox was supported at the hearing by her lawyer Simon Shamy who submitted that she met the statutory test for a release on parole, as she did not pose an undue risk to community safety.
“He said the circumstances of the offending were tragic and were the result of a perfect storm of circumstances for Ms Knox which will never be repeated,” the board decision said.
“She has completed four to six sessions of one-to-one psychological treatment which has helped to give her insight into the process that led to her offending,” said board convener Kathryn Snook.
Knox had been assessed as being low risk of general and or violent offending.
She will be released next month and is subject to standard parole conditions for two years. She will also be subject to special conditions.