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| Woman in 'abnormal mental state' | Woman in 'abnormal mental state' |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A woman accused of killing her two daughters at their Cambridgeshire home was in an "abnormal mental state", a psychiatrist has told a court. | A woman accused of killing her two daughters at their Cambridgeshire home was in an "abnormal mental state", a psychiatrist has told a court. |
| Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, of Stretham, denies murdering Davina, 16, and Jasmine, 13, in 2007. | Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, of Stretham, denies murdering Davina, 16, and Jasmine, 13, in 2007. |
| Psychiatrist Lyle Hamilton told Cambridge Crown Court she may have been "retaliating" against men. | Psychiatrist Lyle Hamilton told Cambridge Crown Court she may have been "retaliating" against men. |
| She is mounting a diminished responsibility defence, arguing she was suffering an "abnormality of mind". | She is mounting a diminished responsibility defence, arguing she was suffering an "abnormality of mind". |
| Dr Hamilton said medical literature showed women had killed children because they were "mentally ill" and because they were a "retaliatory type". | Dr Hamilton said medical literature showed women had killed children because they were "mentally ill" and because they were a "retaliatory type". |
| He told jurors Ms Kumari-Baker displayed a combination of both categories. | He told jurors Ms Kumari-Baker displayed a combination of both categories. |
| BBC Look East Home Affairs Correspondent Sally Chidzoy was at court | BBC Look East Home Affairs Correspondent Sally Chidzoy was at court |
| He said: "I think she was in an abnormal mental state. | He said: "I think she was in an abnormal mental state. |
| "I think strains in the relationships with the men - key men - in her life gave rise probably to the idea of some kind of retaliation against not just them as individuals but against men generally - life." | "I think strains in the relationships with the men - key men - in her life gave rise probably to the idea of some kind of retaliation against not just them as individuals but against men generally - life." |
| Dr Hamilton told jurors he interviewed Ms Kumari-Baker in prison in June 2008. | Dr Hamilton told jurors he interviewed Ms Kumari-Baker in prison in June 2008. |
| He said she had no history of mental illness or disorder but he thought she may have suffered from a condition known as somatisation - where mental disturbance was revealed in complaints of physical ailments. | He said she had no history of mental illness or disorder but he thought she may have suffered from a condition known as somatisation - where mental disturbance was revealed in complaints of physical ailments. |
| He told the court: "Her mental condition is complex. I do believe that these killings were driven emotionally - by disturbed emotion." | He told the court: "Her mental condition is complex. I do believe that these killings were driven emotionally - by disturbed emotion." |
| Dr Hamilton said he did not think the killings were "coldly planned". | Dr Hamilton said he did not think the killings were "coldly planned". |
| Earlier in the trial, a psychiatrist, called to give evidence by the prosecution and who interviewed Ms Kumari-Baker at a police station on the day of her arrest, said he could find no evidence of any mental illness. | Earlier in the trial, a psychiatrist, called to give evidence by the prosecution and who interviewed Ms Kumari-Baker at a police station on the day of her arrest, said he could find no evidence of any mental illness. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |