A Montreal woman has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the drowning death of her eight-year-old son in Vermont three years ago.

Louise Desnoyers, 51, entered the plea Thursday afternoon in a courtroom in North Hero, Vt.

In court, Desnoyers admitted to making the 80 km drive down to Lake Champlain in August 2006 with her son, Nicholas Desnoyers-Langlois.

She said she held her son's head under water until he died. She tried unsuccessfully to kill herself by slashing her wrists and swallowing pills.

The court heard Thursday that Desnoyers and her husband were divorcing, and she didn't want her son to live through the ordeal.

District Court Judge Michael Kupersmith accepted the plea after asking Desnoyers a series of questions about her health and comfort level with the plea.

Court accepts plea after psychiatric treatment

It was the second time Desnoyers, who had worked as a teacher in Montreal, had attempted to plead guilty to a charge in connection to the case.

Two years ago, she offered to plead to a charge of second-degree murder. However, the judge rejected the plea bargain because of her mental state.

She received psychiatric treatment, and the court heard that her condition had improved.

A new trial was supposed to begin next week. However, just days before the jury was to be chosen in the case, Desnoyers notified the court of a change in plea.

Desnoyers could face a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years under Vermont law. A sentencing hearing will be held in two months.