“I read the argument for not punishing her severely and it made sense. It would discourage other false accusers from recanting.”
OTOH, maybe frightening false accusers is the idea?
“If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime...and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil out from among you. The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you.” (Deut. 19.16ff)
Point well made and taken.