Star Hobson's mum faces having eight-year jail term over toddler's death increased today

Star Hobson’s mum could have her eight-year jail term for her toddler’s death increased today.

Court of Appeal judges will announce their decision, whether Frankie Smith, who was jailed last year for allowing her daughter’s death, should face a longer sentence.

Smith's child, Star, died at just 16 months old in hospital having suffered “utterly catastrophic” and “unsurvivable” injuries inflicted by Smith’s former partner Savannah Brockhill.

Frankie Smith, Star's mother
West Yorkshire Police

Brockhill was found guilty of the murder and was handed a life term with a minimum of 25 years in prison following a trial at Bradford Crown Court.

Smith was also found guilty of causing or allowing Star’s death and received an eight-year term which was described as “unduly lenient” by Attorney General Suella Braverman.

Ms Braverman announced in January that she would be referring Smith’s sentence to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that her original sentence was too forgiving.

Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Sweeney and Mr Justice Jeremy Baker are due to hear the case from 10.30am today.

During the original trial it was declared Star had suffered two brain injuries, numerous ribs fractures, the fracture and refracture of her leg, and a skull fracture when she died.

Judge Mrs Justice Lambert said Star’s “short life was marked by neglect, cruelty and injury”.

Ms Braverman also said at that time: “This case will have caused upset to anyone who read about it, but my job is to decide if a sentence appears to be too low based solely on the facts of the case.

“I have carefully considered the details of this case, and I concluded that I can refer Frankie Smith’s sentence to the Court of Appeal as I believe it is unduly lenient.

“However, I have concluded that I cannot refer Savannah Brockhill’s sentence."