In July 2020, 59-year-old Corinna Smith committed a heinous crime, assaulting her 81-year-old husband, Michael Baines, and causing severe burns covering 36% of his body. The attack involved a viscous substance created by mixing boiling water with three bags of sugar, a method chosen to maximize harm. The motive behind the assault was rooted in Smith’s anger, fueled by her daughter’s allegations that Mr. Baines had victimized her and her brother during their childhood.
Driven by extreme rage upon hearing these accusations, Smith, enraged by her daughter’s claims of alleged victimization by Mr. Baines, executed the attack with premeditation. The prosecution revealed that the addition of sugar to the liquid made it thicker and stickier, causing more substantial damage to the victim’s skin.
Michael Baines, who endured significant burns, underwent surgical procedures and skin grafts. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries a month later in August 2020 at Whiston Hospital. The court heard that before his death, Smith’s son, Craig, who tragically ended his own life in 2007, had disclosed to his mother that he had assaulted a person he identified as a pedophile responsible for sexually abusing him.
Smith’s defense attempted to argue mansla*ghter due to loss of control, citing the emotional turmoil caused by her son’s disclosure and her daughter’s allegations. However, the jury found her guilty of m*rder, considering the premeditated nature of the attack that took approximately 13 minutes to plan and execute.
Prosecutor Mark Rhind QC emphasized that Smith was in control of her actions, driven by anger and a desire for vengeance. He asserted that her intention was either to k*ll Michael or cause him serious harm, leading to the m*rder conviction.
After committing the assault, Smith fled her house and sought help from a neighbor several doors away, expressing concern that she had severely harmed or k*lled her husband. The neighbor summoned an ambulance and the police, who found Mr. Baines in agonizing pain with peeling skin.
During a police interview, Smith admitted to pouring boiling water over her husband but claimed the entire incident was a blur, emphasizing a loss of control and intense emotional reaction rather than calculated revenge.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Hughes of Cheshire Constabulary’s Major Crime Directorate highlighted the cruel and painful manner in which Smith ended her husband’s life. He criticized her for wasting time seeking help from a distant neighbor, emphasizing that Michael, an elderly man, struggled for survival after the attack but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Smith received a life sentence with a minimum of 12 years in prison at Chester Crown Court, marking the legal consequences of her brutal crime.
