DAWN MAKIN BURY NURSE WHO MURDERED DAUGHTER CHLOE BURKE IN BURY

In a tragic and heartbreaking case that shocked the community of Bury, Dawn Makin, a 35-year-old former nurse, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the manslaughter of her four-year-old daughter, Chloe Burke. The devastating incident unfolded at their family home on Lea Mount Drive in Bury, where Chloe was found dead after being brutally stabbed multiple times.

Preston Crown Court heard that Makin, who had previously been employed at the Moorgate Walk-in Centre in Bury, was suffering from severe mental health issues at the time of the attack. Her mental state was a significant factor in her plea of guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The court was informed that her mental health had deteriorated following her suspension from her nursing position in May 2010, after she was caught passing sensitive patient information to her boyfriend, Martin Campbell, who worked for a personal injury claims firm.

Details of the tragic day revealed that just days before Chloe’s death, Makin had told her daughter’s childminder and her own parents that both she and Chloe were suffering from a stomach bug. She even posted on Facebook, claiming that she and her daughter were resting in bed together. However, her family grew increasingly worried when they failed to hear from her for more than a day. In a desperate attempt to find out what was happening, her parents, along with a neighbor, broke into her house. It was during this distressing search that they made the horrifying discovery in Makin’s bedroom: Chloe lay lifeless, wrapped in pajamas and a dressing gown, with multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest. She was surrounded by her collection of cuddly toys, a tragic scene that left everyone devastated.

Paramedics arrived at the scene and rushed Makin to the hospital, where she survived her injuries but was left permanently disabled. Chloe, however, was pronounced dead at the scene. A suicide note was found at the top of the stairs, in which Makin expressed remorse and explained her actions: “I’m sorry I have taken you away from you all but I couldn’t leave her here with no money, that would be too cruel.”

Further investigation revealed that Makin had attempted to clean up the scene after the attack. Blood-stained clothes and bedsheets were discovered in a black bin bag in her bedroom, indicating her efforts to conceal the evidence. Prosecutor Peter Wright stated that Chloe must have survived for several hours after the stabbing before succumbing to her injuries, which caused her lungs to collapse, leading to infection and pneumonia. Evidence also showed that the young girl had tried to defend herself from her mother’s assault, adding to the tragic nature of the case.

The court heard that Makin was suffering from an “abnormality of mental function” at the time of the attack, which impaired her judgment. She had also consumed anti-freeze in an apparent suicide attempt, which resulted in her current disability and her use of a wheelchair. Prosecutor Wright explained that Makin believed her only escape was to kill herself and her daughter, as she was no longer capable of rational judgment. Her mental health issues were compounded by her personal circumstances, including her recent breakup with her partner in January 2011, which caused her significant emotional distress. Just days after her breakup, on Valentine’s Day, she was informed she would face prosecution for data protection offenses related to her previous job.

Two days after learning of her impending prosecution, Makin was found with her wrists cut and a bottle of anti-freeze nearby. She left several suicide notes, including one stating, “I had no choice, my life was wrecked,” and a message on her daughter’s picture reading, “I’m so sorry I’ve taken her away from you all but I couldn’t leave her with no money, that would be too cruel. Sorry.”

During the sentencing, Nick Johnson QC, representing the defense, highlighted that psychiatric assessments indicated Makin believed her daughter was an “emotional extension” of herself. Although she had received psychiatric treatment and was no longer considered a danger, she was left with the profound guilt of her actions, which she could not fully remember. Judge Anthony Russell QC, the Recorder of Preston, addressed Makin directly, stating that she would need to serve at least six years before being eligible for parole. The judge emphasized that although Makin understood the nature of her conduct, her mental state at the time rendered her unable to make rational judgments, leading her to believe that killing her daughter was the only option available to her.