This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/18/woman-jailed-murder-daughter-drowned-in-bath-claire-colebourn

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Woman jailed for murdering daughter by drowning her in bath Woman jailed for drowning three-year-old daughter in bath
(32 minutes later)
A woman who drowned her three-year-old daughter in the bath to prevent her from having contact with her estranged husband has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years. A woman who drowned her three-year-old daughter in the bath to prevent her estranged husband from having contact with the girl has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years.
Claire Colebourn, a former biology teacher, said she drowned Bethan because she believed she would be “safer in heaven” than with her husband, Michael.Claire Colebourn, a former biology teacher, said she drowned Bethan because she believed she would be “safer in heaven” than with her husband, Michael.
Colebourn, 36, also wrongly suspected he was having an affair with a work colleague at the marine company of which he is chief executive, a court was told. Colebourn, 36, wrongly suspected her husband was having an affair with a colleague at the marine company of which he is chief executive, a court was told.
Bethan died at the family home in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in October 2017. After drowning Bethan, Colebourn, who has diabetes, tried to kill herself. She denied murder but was convicted by a jury at Winchester crown court. Bethan died at the family home in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in October 2017. Afterwards, Colebourn tried to kill herself. She denied murder but was convicted by a jury at Winchester crown court.
In the witness box, Colebourn claimed her husband “hammered” her emotionally and would not let her and Bethan “be at peace”. In the witness box, Colebourn claimed her husband “hammered” her emotionally and would not let her and Bethan “be at peace”. She wept as she told the jury she thought the only way to keep her daughter safe was to kill her and ensure she could not be anywhere near her father.
She wept as she told the jury she thought the only way to keep her daughter safe was to kill her and ensure she could not be anywhere near her father. “When your emotions are being hammered by somebody so much and you see your beautiful little girl suffering as well because she feels for her mummy,” she told jurors. “She’s going to be a lot safer in heaven than she is anywhere near her father. The spirit can be at peace then, and Michael would not let us be in peace. I would walk to the end of the earth for her.”
“When your emotions are being hammered by somebody so much and you see your beautiful little girl suffering as well because she feels for her mummy,” she told jurors.
“She’s going to be a lot safer in heaven than she is anywhere near her father. The spirit can be at peace then, and Michael would not let us be in peace. I would walk to the end of the earth for her.”
When asked by the prosecuting barrister, Kerry Maylin, what she had intended to do to Bethan in the bath, Colebourn said: “I can’t use the words you want me to. She was going to be safe, because she would be in heaven. Bethan was going to pass into heaven.”When asked by the prosecuting barrister, Kerry Maylin, what she had intended to do to Bethan in the bath, Colebourn said: “I can’t use the words you want me to. She was going to be safe, because she would be in heaven. Bethan was going to pass into heaven.”
Before the murder, Colebourn researched drowning on the internet and looked for information on churches and cemeteries. Bethan’s body was found the next day in a downstairs bed, her hair still wet.Before the murder, Colebourn researched drowning on the internet and looked for information on churches and cemeteries. Bethan’s body was found the next day in a downstairs bed, her hair still wet.
Confessing to police, Colebourn said Bethan told her she did not want a bath. “She went to the bathroom, saw the bath running and just said: ‘I don’t want a bath mummy, I don’t want a bath,’” she said. Confessing to police, Colebourn said Bethan told her she did not want a bath. “She went to the bathroom, saw the bath running and just said: ‘I don’t want a bath mummy, I don’t want a bath.’
“I have never been so stressed in my life. Then I drowned my daughter; I drowned my own daughter. It’s going to haunt me for the rest of my life. Her whole body jumped after holding her for a while.“I have never been so stressed in my life. Then I drowned my daughter; I drowned my own daughter. It’s going to haunt me for the rest of my life. Her whole body jumped after holding her for a while.
“She didn’t fight against my hand. Her arms were tucked under her. I think sadly, very sadly for her now. She had complete and utter trust in me, didn’t she?”“She didn’t fight against my hand. Her arms were tucked under her. I think sadly, very sadly for her now. She had complete and utter trust in me, didn’t she?”
In his closing speech, Karim Khalil, defending, described his client as “a woman in emotional turmoil”. In his closing speech during the trial, Karim Khalil, defending, described his client as “a woman in emotional turmoil”.
Michael Colebourn said after the sentencing: “There are no words to describe the past 18 months. The one thing in my life that gave me purpose has gone.
“My beautiful daughter has been taken from me in such a cold and callous manner at the very hands of the one other person that should have protected her and kept her safe.
“The loss of Bethan has had a huge impact on so many people: family, friends and all that knew her. She was such a special little girl, bringing so much joy to all their lives.”
He added: “Throughout the criminal trial, I and all those that loved Bethan have had to endure the heartbreak of listening to her last moments. I have also had to suffer endless unfounded allegations and lies made against me with no opportunity to respond.
“I desperately miss being a daddy, we would have such great times together. Bethan’s laugh was infectious and her energy was endless. There is not a second in the day that goes by that I am not thinking about her. Bethan was my world and being her daddy made me so proud. I miss her so much.”
Colebourn did not react when handed the sentence. The judge Mrs Justice Johannah Cutts said: “She [Bethan] was clearly a beautiful little girl who was full of life. She had everything to live for. You were her mother, you were responsible for her care and her wellbeing.”
+ In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.+ In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
CrimeCrime
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content