Maxine Robinson (born 1968) is an English woman whose horrific crimes stunned the nation.
Between 1989 and 1993, she murdered her three children. Initially convicted in 1995 of murdering her two youngest children, Robinson’s case was reviewed in the early 2000s due to controversies surrounding key trial evidence. However, in 2004, she confessed to all three murders, including the death of her first-born child, initially ruled as SIDS. Her case serves as a grim reminder that not all maternal convictions are miscarriages of justice.
The Murders
Victoria’s Death
In 1989, Robinson’s nine-month-old daughter, Victoria, died suddenly at their home in Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham. At the time, the death was attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), raising no suspicions.
Christine and Anthony’s Deaths
In 1993, tragedy struck again when Robinson’s other two children—19-month-old Christine and five-month-old Anthony—died suddenly within months of each other. Medical professionals noted that Robinson had not used the resuscitation training she had received following Victoria’s death, raising concerns. A Home Office pathologist suggested that the deaths were consistent with smothering, though some defence experts argued they could have been natural.
Conviction and Appeal
In 1995, Robinson was convicted of murdering Christine and Anthony. The verdict was reached by a narrow majority, with significant weight placed on the testimony of paediatrician Roy Meadow, who claimed that multiple unexplained child deaths in one family were almost always cases of murder. Robinson appealed the conviction, but it was upheld.
Controversy and Confessions
The Discrediting of Roy Meadow
Robinson’s conviction became controversial in the early 2000s as Meadow’s statistical theory was widely discredited. This led to the quashing of convictions in other high-profile cases, such as Angela Cannings and Sally Clark. In January 2004, Robinson’s case was flagged for review due to reliance on Meadow’s evidence.
The Confession
Before her case could be reviewed, Robinson confessed to killing all three of her children. She told a prison ‘listener’ at HM Prison Durham that she had smothered the children in their sleep. This shocking revelation included details of how she killed her first-born daughter, Victoria, using a deflated balloon. Robinson explained she had been overwhelmed and depressed at the time, compounded by criticism from her mother.
Legal Repercussions
Robinson pleaded guilty to Victoria’s murder in 2004, adding to her existing life sentences for the murders of Christine and Anthony. The trial judge extended her minimum term by three years, remarking that the case was a stark reminder that not all maternal convictions were miscarriages of justice.
Conclusion
Maxine Robinson’s story is one of tragedy, deception, and cold-blooded murder. Her confessions not only solidified her guilt but also served to remind the public of the complexities and consequences of maternal filicide cases. While some mothers have been wrongfully convicted, Robinson’s case underscores that justice can sometimes uncover horrifying truths.
