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Shiregreen murders: Sarah Barrass killed teenage sons | |
(32 minutes later) | |
A mum murdered two of her children because she feared social services would take them into care. | |
Sarah Barrass, along with family member Brandon Machin strangled Tristan and Blake Barrass, aged 13 and 14, in Shiregreen, Sheffield, on 24 May. | |
The court heard how Barrass, 35, would regularly tell her children: "I gave you life, I can take it away." | |
Barrass and 39-year-old Machin are being sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court. | |
The court was told they had unsuccessfully tried to poison their four eldest children the night before, by forcing them to take ADHD tablets. | |
Kama Melly QC, prosecuting, said: "None of the children wanted to take the tablets but were forced to do so. | |
"The defendants expected the tablets to kill the children overnight." | |
More stories from around Yorkshire | |
The court heard after the bid failed, Barrass strangled Tristan with her dressing gown cord. | |
Machin then strangled Blake with his hands. | |
They "then placed bin bags over their heads to ensure their certain death", Ms Melly said. | |
Barrass and Machin have both previously admitted murder, conspiracy to murder all six of her children, including Blake and Tristan, and five counts of attempted murder. | |
All the surviving children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are under the age of 13. | All the surviving children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are under the age of 13. |
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |