Babysitter pleads innocence and claims she was saving baby from choking when she shook him to death as she's sentenced to 15 years

A babysitter who shook a 14-month-old boy to death has been sentenced to 15 years in prison - but maintains that she is innocent.

Michelle Heale, 46, was convicted of the manslaughter of Mason Hess in April, despite claiming she was only trying to stop him from choking.

Heale, from Toms River, New Jersey, said that Mason had applesauce stuck in his throat, and she struck him on the back in the hope of dislodging it so he could breathe again.

After the sentence was handed down, Heale said: 'I did what I thought was best for Mason. I do not regret the choices I made that day. There is nothing I would change,' the Asbury Park Press reported.

 

 

Convicted: Heale was found guilty of manslaughter in April, and was given a 15-year sentence today

She had testified that Mason went limp in her arms after she struck him between the shoulder blades. 

During the trial, medical experts said that Mason bore the signs of being violently shaken, leaving him with extreme injuries to his brain, spine and eyes.

Mason was not killed instantly by his injuries, but died in a children's hospital four days later.

At one point in the trial, she was asked to use a toy child to re-enact the incident in August 2012n using a doll of a young child - a task which left her in tears.

Describing the moment, she said: 'I hit him hard on the back. I may have hit him harder than I should have,' Heale said through tears after demonstrating on the doll.

'I hit him about four or five times, and then I felt the applesauce come out. I felt it on my shoulder and I felt it on my shirt.'

'As I brought him down, his head snapped back ... he was completely limp. His eyes were open, but he wasn't doing anything. ... Everything was flopping.' 

Jurors acquitted Heale of Mason's murder, but found her guilty of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

When she was found guilty, Heale broke down in tears and said 'I didn't do it' over and over. She spoke to her husband, who was in the hearing, and begged that he not let her children forget her. 

Mason's furious parents also spoke at the sentencing hearing. His mother Kellie called Heale 'a horrible monster', and his father Adam said 'the devil has saved a special place in hell for you.'

The Press also reported that he said he wanted her to be given the death penalty.

Manslaughter in New Jersey can be punished with up to 30 years in prison - but Heale was not given the full amount, partly because she had no previous criminal record.

She will be eligible for parole after just less than 13 years behind bars.