Donna Fitchett has passed away just weeks after her release from nearly two decades in prison for the murder of her two sons. The 66-year-old was discovered unresponsive at a residence on King Street, Prahran, in southeast Melbourne, following a welfare check on the evening of her death, which authorities confirmed was not considered suspicious.
Fitchett had been found guilty of drugging and killing her sons, Thomas, aged 11, and Matthew, aged nine, at their home in Balwyn on September 6, 2005. During her trial, she argued that she killed her children out of excessive love, pleading not guilty to murder on the basis of insanity. The boys’ father, David Fitchett, tragically found them when he returned from work. Prosecutors maintained that the killings were premeditated, having been planned days prior.
In 2010, Fitchett was sentenced to 27 years in prison with an 18-year non-parole term after successfully appealing her original conviction, which was 24 years. Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Curtain labelled her actions as “utterly inexplicable”.
After serving nearly 20 years, Fitchett was released earlier this year, only to die shortly thereafter. Her case continues to evoke discussions around mental health and the complexities of her actions.
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