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Shiregreen murders: Sarah Barrass killed teenage sons | Shiregreen murders: Sarah Barrass killed teenage sons |
(32 minutes later) | |
A mother-of-six murdered her two teenage sons the day after a bid to poison them failed. | A mother-of-six murdered her two teenage sons the day after a bid to poison them failed. |
Sarah Barrass, along with family member Brandon Machin, strangled Tristan and Blake Barrass, aged 13 and 14, in Shiregreen, Sheffield, on 24 May. | 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." | 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. | Barrass and 39-year-old Machin are being sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court. |
They have both previously admitted murder, conspiracy to murder all six of her children, including Blake and Tristan, and five counts of attempted murder. | They have both previously admitted murder, conspiracy to murder all six of her children, including Blake and Tristan, and five counts of attempted murder. |
'Nothing but evil' | |
The court heard the pair hatched the plot to kill the children because Barrass feared they would be taken into care. | The court heard the pair hatched the plot to kill the children because Barrass feared they would be taken into care. |
They had unsuccessfully tried to poison the four eldest the night before, by forcing them to take ADHD tablets. | They had unsuccessfully tried to poison the four eldest 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. | 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." | "The defendants expected the tablets to kill the children overnight." |
More stories from around Yorkshire | More stories from around Yorkshire |
When the tablets had not had the effect Barrass wanted, she began to search online for other ways of killing her children, including suffocation, strangulation and drowning. | |
The court was told Barrass then strangled Tristan with her dressing gown cord. | The court was told Barrass then strangled Tristan with her dressing gown cord. |
Machin strangled Blake with his hands afterwards. | Machin strangled Blake with his hands afterwards. |
They "then placed bin bags over their heads to ensure their certain death", Ms Melly said. | They "then placed bin bags over their heads to ensure their certain death", Ms Melly said. |
After killing Tristan and Blake, the defendants ran a bath and repeatedly tried to drown one of the younger children. | After killing Tristan and Blake, the defendants ran a bath and repeatedly tried to drown one of the younger children. |
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. |
The court heard Barrass had approached the local authority to ask for help with her children. | The court heard Barrass had approached the local authority to ask for help with her children. |
Ms Melly said the mother sent a message to a friend in which she said: "I've thought of every possible solution to this mess. | Ms Melly said the mother sent a message to a friend in which she said: "I've thought of every possible solution to this mess. |
"I love my kids too much to kill them, I can't put them into care for the same reason." | "I love my kids too much to kill them, I can't put them into care for the same reason." |
Bryan Cox QC, mitigating for Barrass, said her crimes were "evil and nothing but evil" but said she was "profoundly damaged by her childhood". | |
He said: "The defendant was desperate to prevent her children being taken into care. | |
"She couldn't cope with the prospect of them being removed." | |
The court heard she told police she planned to kill the younger two children and herself, after the older four had died. | |
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. |