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A Brisbane mother who helped her disabled son take his own life in 2013 has been sentenced to jail.
Kim Margaret Earle, 49, was deeply concerned about her son’s sexual obsessions after he displayed paedophilic tendencies and a strong fascination with 18th century sadomasochist, Marquis de Sade.
According to crown prosecutor, David Meredith, Earle took anaesthesia drugs and other medical equipment from the Gold Coast Hospital where she worked as a nurse, to assist in her son’s suicide.
After giving her son the drugs at home, she then took their dog to the vet to be put down, before attempting to take her own life, according to reports from the Brisbane Times.
However, when she woke the next morning, she was arrested by police and taken into custody where she remained for more than three years.
Yesterday in the Brisbane Supreme Court, Justice Roslyn Atkinson sentenced Earle to a maximum of three years in prison, but ordered she be released on parole on May 28 as she had already suffered enough.
‘Your son’s interest in sadomasochism, (child) pornographic websites and chat rooms and art had got you to the point where you couldn’t see any way out, where he wanted to die… and essentially you helped him to die out of your great love for him,’ Justice Atkinson said.
‘There are not many cases where the killing was committed out of love,’ she added.
Earle now suffers memory loss as a result of electric shock therapy and has to be reminded of her crime.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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