No prison for woman after mercy killing
By:Anne A MERCY killer who helped a pensioner commit suicide received a suspended sentence after a judge decided she acted out of "love and affection". Charity worker Alison Bird, 45, wept as she gave an overdose of painkillers to her father figure George Howell, 84. Widower Mr Howell, a Navy veteran who fought in the Korean War, had begged her to help him take his own life. Mother-of-three Ms Bird went to his home near her own in Chippenham with her 13-year-old twins and gave him 40 co-proxamol tablets before calling an ambulance. Mr Howell briefly regained consciousness to tell paramedics "I don't want to live" and died later that evening in hospital. Single mother Ms Bird admitted one count of aiding and abetting suicide at Swindon Crown Court, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Judge Douglas Field, sentenced her to nine months in prison suspended for one year and described it as a "very sad" case. He added: "I'm quite satisfied that you were extremely fond of George Howell. He was part of your family and he was treated as a father to you. "He regarded your boys as his grandchildren and over the years you developed a great deal of affection and love for him. "When he was 84 and his health was failing he was determined to end his own life and discussed this with you. "In my judgment he was extremely persistent with you about his desire and put great pressure on you. "I quite accept that you acted out of your love and affection for him to foolishly help him take his own life." On the night of the overdose, May 30, 2007, he had telephoned her threatening to kill himself. She went to his home and he asked Ms Bird to fetch his painkiller tablets. She told police later in interview: "He said he was going to take his tablets and that would be the end of it. "We had a cuddle and he went to see my kids, to say goodbye to them. We were all in tears, my kids were in tears and so was I." Ms Bird, who was also handed a 12-month supervision order, will not pay costs. She refused to comment as she left court in tears. | 
