Why is Frankie Inglis in prison?

Today, as so often, the question  of why we put so many people in jail compared with other European countries is being raised.

The reason is that there are plenty of people in there who should not be.

A case in point is Frankie Inglis.  I suggested mentioning her in this blog, but making it anonymous, but she was keen for me to put her name in.

Frankie had a much-loved son, Tom, a very active sportsman, who, after an accident, could no longer move or talk - he could just look at her and his eyes pleaded with her to put him out of his agony.  He knew that she could, for she was well into her nurse's training.  She tried, but was interrupted, and did not succeed the first time.  She had the huge courage to try again and this time was able to carry it through.  That was
treated as murder, and she is serving a 5-year sentence.

To me, this makes no sense at all.  If it is a punishment, it doesn't compare with the agony she went through, first of all seeing her son in this terrible state and then stirring herself up to perform this courageous act.  It is obvious that punishment had no place in this case.  If it is to protect the public, it is equally nonsensical, for nobody else's son is in danger from her.  On the contrary, she is a splendid person who put the well-being of her son above her own.  She knew there would be a penalty to pay, and she faced it for love of him.

It is not as though public opinion would demand a stiff sentence.  She writes, ".. I have only ever had kindness and understanding from people.  There may be those who feel angry towards me, but I have never encountered that attitude, and, to be honest, if I did, it wouldn't bother me.  I've always said that it was Tom's wishes, which were paramount, so if anyone disagrees, that is their opinion and it doesn't affect me".

A trial was necessary, anything more than a suspended sentence defies reason.