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Mother 'wished her daughter dead' Mother 'wished her daughter dead'
(about 2 hours later)
A woman told her daughter "I wish you were dead" three years before she killed her and her sister at their home in Cambridgeshire, a jury has heard.A woman told her daughter "I wish you were dead" three years before she killed her and her sister at their home in Cambridgeshire, a jury has heard.
Rekha Kumari-Baker, of Stretham, made the remark to her elder child Davina, 16, during a meeting with teachers, Cambridge Crown Court was told.Rekha Kumari-Baker, of Stretham, made the remark to her elder child Davina, 16, during a meeting with teachers, Cambridge Crown Court was told.
Prosecutors say Ms Kumari-Baker, 41, murdered Davina and Jasmine, 13.Prosecutors say Ms Kumari-Baker, 41, murdered Davina and Jasmine, 13.
The court heard Ms Kumari-Baker will mount a "diminished responsibility" defence for the stabbings in June 2007.The court heard Ms Kumari-Baker will mount a "diminished responsibility" defence for the stabbings in June 2007.
It is understood she will argue that she was suffering from an "abnormality of mind", which makes her guilty of manslaughter but not murder. It is understood she will argue that she was suffering from an "abnormality of mind", making her guilty of manslaughter but not murder.
Teacher Stephanie Franklin, vice principal of Impington Village College near Cambridge, where Davina was a pupil between 2002 and 2006, said she had had a series of meetings with Ms Kumari-Baker to discuss concerns about Davina. Teacher Stephanie Franklin, vice principal of Impington Village College near Cambridge, where Davina was a pupil between 2002 and 2006, said she had a series of meetings with Ms Kumari-Baker to discuss concerns about Davina.
'Extreme' statement'Extreme' statement
Ms Franklin said Ms Kumari-Baker could be "aggressive" and "dictatorial".Ms Franklin said Ms Kumari-Baker could be "aggressive" and "dictatorial".
She described a meeting in October 2004 where Ms Kumari-Baker had twice said she wished Davina dead.She described a meeting in October 2004 where Ms Kumari-Baker had twice said she wished Davina dead.
"I said, 'you don't mean that Rekha. That's a really extreme thing to say. You are a mother'."I said, 'you don't mean that Rekha. That's a really extreme thing to say. You are a mother'.
The girls' mother claims she did not murder them
"And she said, 'I do mean that'. And she turned to Davina and said, 'I wish you were dead'.""And she said, 'I do mean that'. And she turned to Davina and said, 'I wish you were dead'."
Earlier, a doctor told the court that concerns had previously been raised about the defendant's mental health. The court heard Ms Kumari-Baker bought the weapons which were used to kill the daughters an hour after taking Jasmine to GP David Toase for a routine appointment.
GP David Toase said Ms Kumari-Baker had been diagnosed in 2003 as suffering from "reactive stress with mild depressive features". The girls' mother claims she did not murder them
He said clinical depression had not been diagnosed and added that he was unable to find any evidence of mental health problems. Prosecutors said she bought the knives she used to kill at an Asda supermarket on 11 June, two days before the fatal attack, prosecutors said.
Jurors heard that concerns had also been raised about the mental health of Davina. Giving evidence about the appointment, Dr Toase said: "Jasmine was light-hearted and laughing and giggling and there was no evidence of any tension between the two of them at all.
Dr Toase told the court that Davina had been seen by a child psychiatrist in 2004. "(Ms Kumari-Baker) seemed fine. It was a light-hearted consultation."
He said social services had been involved to assess her home arrangements, but doctors had concluded that she was at low risk of self-harm and that the teenager had no mental health problems. Earlier, Dr Toase had told the court that concerns had previously been raised about the defendant's mental health.
Ms Kumari-Baker had been diagnosed in 2003 as suffering from "reactive stress with mild depressive features", he said.
The jury heard clinical depression had not been diagnosed and Dr Toase was unable to find any evidence of mental health problems.
He added that Davina had been seen by a child psychiatrist in 2004.
The court was told social services had been involved to assess her home arrangements, but doctors had concluded that she was at low risk of self-harm and that the teenager had no mental health problems.
The trial continues.The trial continues.