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Daughters killed 'as they slept' | Daughters killed 'as they slept' |
(40 minutes later) | |
A mother accused of murdering her two daughters at their Cambridgeshire home told a special constable: "I have killed the kids", a court has heard. | A mother accused of murdering her two daughters at their Cambridgeshire home told a special constable: "I have killed the kids", a court has heard. |
Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, of Stretham, denies murdering Davina Baker, 16, and Jasmine Baker, 13, on 13 June 2007. | Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, of Stretham, denies murdering Davina Baker, 16, and Jasmine Baker, 13, on 13 June 2007. |
Cambridge Crown Court was told Ms Kumari-Baker killed the girls as they slept at home. | Cambridge Crown Court was told Ms Kumari-Baker killed the girls as they slept at home. |
The judge, Mr Justice Bean, said the defence would argue she had "diminished responsibility" for the killings. | The judge, Mr Justice Bean, said the defence would argue she had "diminished responsibility" for the killings. |
He said they would claim she was suffering from a "serious abnormality of mind" when the offences occurred. | He said they would claim she was suffering from a "serious abnormality of mind" when the offences occurred. |
I've done something terrible Natalie. Please call me Rekha Kumari-Baker's answerphone message | |
Prosecutor John Farmer told the jury that Davina was stabbed 39 times in a "frenzied" attack. | Prosecutor John Farmer told the jury that Davina was stabbed 39 times in a "frenzied" attack. |
Ms Kumari-Baker, a hotel worker, then attacked her younger daughter in similar fashion, he said. | Ms Kumari-Baker, a hotel worker, then attacked her younger daughter in similar fashion, he said. |
Mr Farmer told the court that, after killing the children, she got dressed and twice went out in her car before ringing a friend to say: "I have done something terrible." | Mr Farmer told the court that, after killing the children, she got dressed and twice went out in her car before ringing a friend to say: "I have done something terrible." |
The court heard there was "much contention" between the defendant and her ex-husband over the care and custody of their children. | The court heard there was "much contention" between the defendant and her ex-husband over the care and custody of their children. |
Jurors were told one theory was that Ms Kumari-Baker wanted to "wreak havoc" on her ex-husband by killing the girls. | Jurors were told one theory was that Ms Kumari-Baker wanted to "wreak havoc" on her ex-husband by killing the girls. |
BBC East's Sally Chidzoy was in court | BBC East's Sally Chidzoy was in court |
Mr Farmer told jurors Ms Kumari-Baker bought the knife she used to kill her children at an Asda supermarket in Cambridge on 11 June 2007. | |
He said she had woken early on 13 June and then gone to the girls' bedrooms and murdered them. | |
After killing the girls, she got dressed, got into her car and drove towards nearby Ely, the prosecutor said. | |
Ms Kumari-Baker then returned to her home, "showered and cleaned herself up" then went out in her car again, he added. | |
Shortly before 0630 BST she telephoned a friend and special police constable Natalie Barford and left an answerphone message saying: "I've done something terrible Natalie. Please call me." | |
Ms Barford went to the defendant's home and she was arrested. | |
Confession note | |
Mr Farmer said the breakdown of Ms Kumari-Baker's relationship with her partner, Jeff Powell, may have acted as a trigger for the attack. | |
"The end of the affair was a trigger to put into motion the mindset that was going to lead her to murdering her daughters." | |
He added that the defendant was "concerned" that her children were spending time with her ex-husband's new girlfriend Kadi Kone. | |
A note found at the home of the hotel worker following the discovery of the bodies, and signed "Rekha", read: "Sorry doesn't mean anything now. | |
"I've killed my two daughters. I did not want them to get hurt like I did. | |
"Jeff hurt me so much I cannot explain. He found it difficult to compromise at times but I loved him so much. | |
"My kids will not be a burden with anyone anymore." | |
The case continues. |