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Shiregreen murders: Sarah Barrass killed teenage sons Sarah Barrass and Brandon Machin jailed for murdering sons
(about 2 hours later)
A mother-of-six murdered her two teenage sons the day after a bid to poison them failed. The parents of six children murdered their 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 and Brandon Machin, who is her half-brother, strangled Tristan and Blake Barrass, aged 13 and 14, in Shiregreen, Sheffield, in 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 Machin, 39, were both sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison 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 their children, including Blake and Tristan, and five counts of attempted murder.
'Nothing but evil''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 how Barrass strangled Tristan with her dressing gown cord, before Machin strangled Blake with his hands.
They had unsuccessfully tried to poison the four eldest the night before, by forcing them to take ADHD tablets. They then put bin bags over the boys' heads to make sure they were dead.
The pair hatched the plot to kill all the children because Barrass feared they would be taken into care.
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They had unsuccessfully tried to poison the four eldest the night before, by collecting ADHD tablets prescribed to one of the children and forcing them to swallow them.
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."
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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.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. She contacted Machin to tell him they were still alive and the pair then strangled the boys, placing bin bags over their heads "to ensure their certain death", Ms Melly said.
Machin strangled Blake with his hands afterwards. The defendants then ran a bath and repeatedly tried to drown one of the younger children.
They "then placed bin bags over their heads to ensure their certain death", Ms Melly said. When that too failed, Barrass took the surviving children - who are all under the age of 13 - to the bedroom and phoned the police.
After killing Tristan and Blake, the defendants ran a bath and repeatedly tried to drown one of the younger children. The court heard Barrass had previously approached the local authority to ask for help with her children.
All the surviving children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are under the age of 13. Ms Melly said the mother sent a message to a friend which said: "I've thought of every possible solution to this mess.
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.
"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".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.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.""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.The court heard she told police she planned to kill the younger two children and herself, after the older four had died.
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