Mum jailed for murder of her baby to have case re-examined
A mother jailed for life for the murder of her baby daughter has won the right to have her case re-examined by the Appeal Court.
Michelle Smith, 38, was found guilty in 2012 of murdering her six-week old daughter Amy, by dosing her with adult painkillers.
Smith, of Brynawel Cimla, Neath, denied poisoning Amy in 2007, despite having initially confessed to police that she "did it".
She was, however, convicted of murder and jailed for life at Swansea Crown Court.
Smith was ordered to serve at least 12 years behind bars before she could apply for parole.
However, senior judges at London's Criminal Appeal Court today allowed her to resurrect her previously abandoned bid to overturn her conviction.
The court heard that Amy died in hospital after the drug dihydrocodeine was found in her blood.
Four years after the tragedy, Smith walked into a police station, in January 2012, and said: "I did it", before retracting her confession minutes later.
She later denied responsibility but was found guilty by a jury
A single Appeal Court judge will now re-examine the merits of the case and, if necessary, grant an extension of time for her to lodge an appeal.
Mrs Justice Andrews warned that, despite clearing the first hurdle today, Smith still faces "formidable obstacles" on the road to clearing her name.