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| No murder trial for mother who suffocated disabled children | No murder trial for mother who suffocated disabled children |
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| A mother who admitted suffocating her three disabled children before trying to kill herself will not face trial for murder, a court has heard. | A mother who admitted suffocating her three 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, four, and twins Ben and Max, three, by diminished responsibility, but denied murder. | Tania Clarence, 42, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Olivia, four, and twins Ben and Max, three, by diminished responsibility, but denied murder. |
| At a hearing at the Old Bailey in London, Mr Justice Sweeney accepted her plea which means she will no longer face trial in the new year. | At a hearing at the Old Bailey in London, Mr Justice Sweeney accepted her plea which means she will no longer face trial in the new year. |
| All three children had type two spinal muscular atrophy. Also known as “floppy baby syndrome”, the genetic condition leaves children with little control of their movements and can drastically shorten life expectancy. | |
| Prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC said on Monday: “It is clear on the evidence [that] 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.” | Prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC said on Monday: “It is clear on the evidence [that] 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 14 November when she is likely to face a hospital order. | Clarence, who was not in court, will be sentenced on 14 November when she is likely to face a hospital order. |
| Johnson told the court that, in the light of medical reports, the Crown Prosecution Service accepted that Clarence was suffering from a major depressive episode at the time of the killings which amounted to an “abnormality of mind”. | Johnson told the court that, in the light of medical reports, the Crown Prosecution Service accepted that Clarence was suffering from a major depressive episode at the time of the killings which amounted to an “abnormality of mind”. |
| But, she said, the mother had previously held the firm belief that the quality of her children’s lives was more important than their longevity – which was “entirely understandable”. | But, she said, the mother had previously held the firm belief that the quality of her children’s lives was more important than their longevity – which was “entirely understandable”. |
| Jim Sturman QC, defending, said a hospital order would be a “just and compassionate” sentence. | Jim Sturman QC, defending, said a hospital order would be a “just and compassionate” sentence. |
| “This is a truly tragic case,” he said. “Anybody who reads the evidence cannot fail to be moved. | “This is a truly tragic case,” he said. “Anybody who reads the evidence cannot fail to be moved. |
| “This offending did occur whilst Mrs Clarence was suffering from an abnormality of the mind. She was manifesting stress throughout the life of the children by their suffering, and caring for three children with this condition was exhausting, distressing, debilitating and turned out to be overwhelming.” | “This offending did occur whilst Mrs Clarence was suffering from an abnormality of the mind. She was manifesting stress throughout the life of the children by their suffering, and caring for three children with this condition was exhausting, distressing, debilitating and turned out to be overwhelming.” |
| He said that as a result of her illness Clarence had “no hope for the future” and her suicide attempt was genuine. | He said that as a result of her illness Clarence had “no hope for the future” and her suicide attempt was genuine. |
| Sturman said that, at the time, Clarence bitterly regretted that she had survived, but now she bitterly regretted the death of her children. | Sturman said that, at the time, Clarence bitterly regretted that she had survived, but now she bitterly regretted the death of her children. |
| Clarence’s husband, Gary, was in court for the hearing. | Clarence’s husband, Gary, was in court for the hearing. |