A mum who stabbed her own baby to death with a pair of scissors before dumping the corpse in a kitchen bin has died in jail.

Rachel Tunstill was serving a life sentence in HMP Styal, Cheshire after stabbing her daughter Mia Kelly over a dozen times in the bathroom of her home in 2017.

The Prison Service confirmed her death, and the circumstances surrounding it are currently under investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

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.”

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Tunstill’s first conviction for murder was in June 2017, leading to a life sentence.

The Court of Appeal overturned the verdict a year later, ruling that lesser charges should have been considered.

Following a retrial, Tunstill was again found guilty of murder in February 2019 and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 17 years.

The mum was jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years.

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At Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that Tunstill gave birth while her unsuspecting boyfriend played computer games in the next room in January 2017.

She deceived him by claiming to have a miscarriage and then asked for scissors before stabbing her baby Mia 14 times shortly after birth.

The autopsy confirmed that the newborn had been born alive but tragically died after suffering multiple stab wounds to the back, neck, and chest.

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At the time of sentencing, Mr Justice King expressed his shock at the harrowing crime, stating: “This must have been a sustained and frenzied attack on a victim who because of her age was particularly vulnerable.

“Her duty to her newborn baby was to cradle and comfort her – not to stab her to death.

“There was here in my judgement concealment of the body, albeit short-lived and in addition there was undoubtedly the indignity which was wrought upon the body by disposing of it in the way she did.”

Tunstall, a university master’s graduate in forensic psychology, was arrested after visiting the hospital for a check-up.

She was still carrying the baby’s umbilical cord and placenta.

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