Deptford Mom Sentenced 22 Years For Son's Death

DEPTFORD, N.J (CBS) - A Deptford woman was sentenced on Thursday to 22 years in prison for the death of her 6-year-old son almost four years ago.

Jarod Harding's throat was slashed just days before Christmas 2007 by his 50-year-old mother Martina who tried, but failed to take her own life.

Her then 9-year-old daughter witnessed it all and this plea bargain to first degree aggravated manslaughter spares the child from reliving the horror of that day.

"The surviving child is now adopted. She's living out-of-state and she's doing well. She's happy in school and in her new life," said Mary Pyffer, Gloucester County Assistant Prosecutor.

Two of the three psychiatrists who evaluated Martina Harding determined she was mentally ill at the time of the incident. Put that all together and Pyffer labeled this case "one of the hardest and saddest" she's ever worked on.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060