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British woman who killed her disabled children will not face murder trial

A British mother who admitted suffocating her three young disabled children before trying to kill...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.53 13 Oct 2014


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British woman who killed her d...

British woman who killed her disabled children will not face murder trial

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.53 13 Oct 2014


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A British mother who admitted suffocating her three young disabled children before trying to kill herself will not face trial for murder, a court has heard.

Tania Clarence (42) had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Olivia (4) and twins Ben and Max (3) by diminished responsibility - but denied murder.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey in London, judge Mr Justice Sweeney accepted her plea so she will no longer face trial in the new year.

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Prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC said: "It is clear on the evidence Mrs Clarence killed her three children because she wanted to end their suffering and at the time she committed the act she could not see any alternative or any other way out of their joint suffering."

Clarence, who was not in court, will be sentenced on November 14th when she is likely to face a hospital order.

The three children all had spinal muscular atrophy, a life-limiting genetic condition also known as floppy baby syndrome which leaves children with little or no control of their movement.

They were found dead by their nanny at the family's five bedroom home in New Malden, south London, on April 22nd.

The children's father, investment banker Gary Clarence, was in his family's native South Africa with their eldest child, who is not affected by the illness, when he heard about the deaths.


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