When the case went to trial, the court focused on the sequence of events and the intent behind Corinna Smith’s actions.

Evidence showed that she had prepared a mixture of boiling water and sugar before going into the bedroom where Michael Baines was asleep. The substance caused severe burns across approximately 36 percent of his body, including serious injuries to his right arm and hand.

Despite medical treatment, he later died from those injuries.

During the proceedings, Corinna Smith stated that she believed the accusations made by her children and connected them to the death of her son in 2007. However, the court noted that those allegations had never been tested or proven in a legal setting.

In sentencing, the judge described the act as deliberate and particularly severe, emphasizing that it removed any opportunity for the claims to be examined through proper legal channels.

On July 9, 2021, Corinna Smith was convicted and given a life sentence, with a minimum term of 12 years before eligibility for parole.

The case has continued to be discussed due to the complex factors involved, including trauma, belief, and the consequences of acting outside the legal system.

It remains a difficult example of how unresolved accusations and emotional distress can lead to irreversible outcomes.