US: Mother scalded son to death

A woman convicted of killing her three-year-old son by plunging him into scalding water as punishment for soiling his nappy has been sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Valerie Kennedy, 32, was convicted last month of manslaughter and child abuse over the death of Jaquez Mason.

Authorities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said Kennedy plunged her son into the water on Christmas Day 2005. The boy suffered severe burns and went a week without treatment before dying.

Prosecutors had sought a conviction for first-degree murder and a life sentence.

Kennedy’s mother, Annie Williams, had custody of Jaquez and his siblings at the time. Kennedy had lost custody of them because of child abuse allegations.

Prosecutors allege Williams allowed Jaquez to spend Christmas at his mother’s apartment, where the injuries occurred.

Williams, 53, is also charged with first-degree murder. Her trial is tentatively set for next month.