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| Teenagers stabbed Lincolnshire mother and daughter as they slept, court hears | |
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| Two teenagers stabbed a mother and daughter as they slept in “cold, calculated and callous killings”, a court has heard. | Two teenagers stabbed a mother and daughter as they slept in “cold, calculated and callous killings”, a court has heard. |
| One of the accused, a 15-year-old boy, admitted murdering the victims in their semi-detached home before the eight-day trial began at Nottingham crown court on Monday. | One of the accused, a 15-year-old boy, admitted murdering the victims in their semi-detached home before the eight-day trial began at Nottingham crown court on Monday. |
| A girl, also 15, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murdering Elizabeth Edwards and her 13-year-old daughter, Katie. | A girl, also 15, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murdering Elizabeth Edwards and her 13-year-old daughter, Katie. |
| Opening the case for the prosecution, Peter Joyce QC said of the victims: “They were both stabbed through the throat in their beds at their home.” | Opening the case for the prosecution, Peter Joyce QC said of the victims: “They were both stabbed through the throat in their beds at their home.” |
| The two teenagers, who were 14 at the time, cannot be identified for legal reasons. They are alleged to have planned the killings before carrying them out at the house in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The victims’ bodies were found about 36 hours later, on 15 April. | The two teenagers, who were 14 at the time, cannot be identified for legal reasons. They are alleged to have planned the killings before carrying them out at the house in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The victims’ bodies were found about 36 hours later, on 15 April. |
| The body of the 49-year-old mother was found lying in bed in her room where she had been repeatedly stabbed, the jury was told. Joyce said a pathologist “found eight sharp-force injuries of which five were on her hands, which suggested she may have been trying to fend off her killer”. | The body of the 49-year-old mother was found lying in bed in her room where she had been repeatedly stabbed, the jury was told. Joyce said a pathologist “found eight sharp-force injuries of which five were on her hands, which suggested she may have been trying to fend off her killer”. |
| She had also been stabbed once in the shoulder, and twice – fatally – in the neck. The prosecution added: “The injuries would not have been instantly fatal and there is evidence that Elizabeth Edwards survived for a short time.” | She had also been stabbed once in the shoulder, and twice – fatally – in the neck. The prosecution added: “The injuries would not have been instantly fatal and there is evidence that Elizabeth Edwards survived for a short time.” |
| Her daughter was found lying on a mattress in her bedroom with two stab wounds to her neck, which suggested “the use of severe force”, Joyce said. The youngster was discovered with a pillow over her face. Joyce added that a postmortem concluded that she had died from “bleeding – haemorrhage – and smothering”. | Her daughter was found lying on a mattress in her bedroom with two stab wounds to her neck, which suggested “the use of severe force”, Joyce said. The youngster was discovered with a pillow over her face. Joyce added that a postmortem concluded that she had died from “bleeding – haemorrhage – and smothering”. |
| The jury heard that the boy had four knives in a backpack, including a large black-handled kitchen knife which was shown to jurors. The prosecution barrister said that the boy had then gone into one of the bedrooms where he “pinned Mrs Edwards down on the bed by kneeling astride her”. | The jury heard that the boy had four knives in a backpack, including a large black-handled kitchen knife which was shown to jurors. The prosecution barrister said that the boy had then gone into one of the bedrooms where he “pinned Mrs Edwards down on the bed by kneeling astride her”. |
| He added that there were noises of a struggle while the killing took place, before a pillow was placed over the victim’s head. The boy is alleged to have then checked the victim’s pulse to make sure she was dead. | He added that there were noises of a struggle while the killing took place, before a pillow was placed over the victim’s head. The boy is alleged to have then checked the victim’s pulse to make sure she was dead. |
| He then went into the young girl’s bedroom, while his alleged female accomplice waited in the bathroom, and stabbed the second victim. Joyce said: “From postmortem findings it seems probable that Katie was smothered with a pillow and also from the position of her body she may have tried to move away from her attacker. Her face was later covered with a sheet.” | He then went into the young girl’s bedroom, while his alleged female accomplice waited in the bathroom, and stabbed the second victim. Joyce said: “From postmortem findings it seems probable that Katie was smothered with a pillow and also from the position of her body she may have tried to move away from her attacker. Her face was later covered with a sheet.” |
| The bodies were found by police who broke down the door. Sgt Christopher Fletcher, one of the officers who found the bodies, told the court that after finding Edwards dead, he discovered Katie under some bedding and, hoping she was asleep, pulled at the quilt and shouted at her to wake up, only to find her “cold and rigid” body. | The bodies were found by police who broke down the door. Sgt Christopher Fletcher, one of the officers who found the bodies, told the court that after finding Edwards dead, he discovered Katie under some bedding and, hoping she was asleep, pulled at the quilt and shouted at her to wake up, only to find her “cold and rigid” body. |
| Officers discovered a large kitchen knife in one of the bedrooms, which the prosecution says was the weapon used in both the killings. Both teenagers were arrested shortly afterwards. | Officers discovered a large kitchen knife in one of the bedrooms, which the prosecution says was the weapon used in both the killings. Both teenagers were arrested shortly afterwards. |
| Joyce told the jury: “Let me make it plain from the very outset what it is you’re trying and what you’re not. She [the defendant] is not denying that she was just as involved in being a party to the killings. She wanted them to happen … She is asserting that her mental condition at the time reduces her responsibility from murder to manslaughter.” | Joyce told the jury: “Let me make it plain from the very outset what it is you’re trying and what you’re not. She [the defendant] is not denying that she was just as involved in being a party to the killings. She wanted them to happen … She is asserting that her mental condition at the time reduces her responsibility from murder to manslaughter.” |
| The crown’s QC said: “The prosecution’s case is that she will not succeed in proving that her responsiblity was diminished.” He added that the defendant had “shown no hint of remorse” since the killings. | The crown’s QC said: “The prosecution’s case is that she will not succeed in proving that her responsiblity was diminished.” He added that the defendant had “shown no hint of remorse” since the killings. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |