A mother has admitted killing her 10-month-old baby girl.
Erin Sutherland, 36, pleaded guilty to culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility following the death of her daughter Chloe at their home in Edinburgh in February.
Ms Sutherland was arrested for the murder of the baby but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence at the High Court in Edinburgh today. She will be sentenced at a later date.
A family statement released in February described Chloe as a “beautiful and vibrant little girl”.
Detective Sergeant Neil Seath said: “The death of a baby is always a tragedy but the unique circumstances of this case make it particularly emotive for everyone involved.
“Our thoughts are very much with Chloe’s family and we can only hope that they are able to come to terms with this heart-breaking situation, and find their own ways of moving forward.”
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) urged more support for families dealing with perinatal mental health issues.
A spokeswoman for the charity said: “This heart wrenching case highlights the urgent need to address the considerable gaps in support for families struggling with perinatal mental health issues.
“Support must be available when and for as long as families need it. And the widespread issues we identified in our recent report on perinatal mental health provision in Scotland including education and training of professionals and access to specialist services must be prioritised.
“We must do all we can to prevent a similar tragedy happening in future.”