Judge lets female child killer walk free
On August 4, 2003, New South Wales woman Daniela Dawes (pictured) forced her 10-year-old autistic son Jason’s mouth closed and pinched his nose until he stopped struggling.
Describing the killing of Jason, (pictured below), on Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program, Dawes said “He was playing. I, being in a depressed state, wasn’t really up for playing. And I remember he ran off and I know I followed him into the rumpus room and then it was just something that was all happening before my eyes. I had no control over what was happening that day”.
After laying Jason’s body on his bed, she phoned work to say she would not be in.