Mother of Khaylan Butler fights for stronger penalties for crimes against children

A grieving mother disappointed with the sentence over the death of her baby has urged to fight on to protect other children. What she proposes in Khaylan’s law. WARNING: Distressing content.

Maddison Butler mother of Khaylan with Tash Butler grandmother of Khaylan leave court. Sentence for Daniel John Ridgers in relation to the manslaughter death of 10 month old Khaylan Shayne Butler. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A grieving mother is angry and determined to prevent her son’s death from happening to anyone else’s child.

Speaking to The Mercury a week after a verdict was handed down for the death of her 10-month-old son Khaylan Shayne Butler, Maddison Butler said she had launched a campaign to push the government and law-makers for stronger penalties against those who harm children.

Baby Khaylan Shayne Butler. Picture: supplied

Khaylan died after Daniel John Ridgers picked him up and shook him before being dropped into his cot, causing irreversible brain damage.

“I was obviously devastated on the day,” she said.

“Then my sadness just turned to anger and determination to change things and my way of coping is keeping busy.”

The potential law – named Khaylan’s Law – would firstly address instances of shaken babies, with Ms Butler open to including other crimes against children.

Mother Maddy Butler with her son Khaylan in hospital. Picture: supplied

“Mostly what we’re focused on at the moment is the shaken baby,” she said.

“We haven’t really thought too much in depth about other things, but ideally, I would like to get things changed for any sort of child abuse, child neglect.”

She has the support of her friends and family to get her campaign off the ground, creating T-shirts and jumpers emblazoned with ‘Justice for Khaylan’ to fundraise for the costs associated.

Her next stop will be contacting Tasmania’ Attorney-General and various politicians and community representatives.

“I’d like to hope that I can make a big change in Khaylan’s name, but it’s going to be a long process, obviously,” she said.

“I’m just determined to push and make as many good changes as I can.”

Maddison Butler mother of Khaylan after the sentence was handed down. Sentence for Daniel John Ridgers in relation to the manslaughter death of 10 month old Khaylan Shayne Butler. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

On Thursday last week, Acting Justice David Porter handed down his decision in Hobart’s Supreme Court of Tasmania, sentencing Ridgers to six years’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of Khaylan, backdating his time served to December 2023 and mandating he spend at least three years in jail before being eligible for parole.

During the legal proceedings against Ridgers, charges were changed three times before settling on manslaughter, with the Warrane man originally charged with grievous bodily harm which was upgraded to murder, then downgraded to manslaughter.

Originally published as Mother of Khaylan Butler fights for stronger penalties for crimes against children