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Killer mother jailed for 33 years | Killer mother jailed for 33 years |
(10 minutes later) | |
A mother convicted of killing her two daughters as they slept in their own home has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 33 years. | A mother convicted of killing her two daughters as they slept in their own home has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 33 years. |
Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, was sentenced by Mr Justice Bean at Cambridge Crown Court. The killing was described as "an act of calculated viciousness". | Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, was sentenced by Mr Justice Bean at Cambridge Crown Court. The killing was described as "an act of calculated viciousness". |
Kumari-Baker used two kitchen knives to stab 16-year-old Davina 37 times and 13-year-old Jasmine 29 times. | Kumari-Baker used two kitchen knives to stab 16-year-old Davina 37 times and 13-year-old Jasmine 29 times. |
Her ex-husband David Baker said he had been "robbed" of his daughters. | Her ex-husband David Baker said he had been "robbed" of his daughters. |
Kumari-Baker admitted killing the girls in June 2007 at their home in Stretham, Cambridgeshire, but had denied murdering them on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | Kumari-Baker admitted killing the girls in June 2007 at their home in Stretham, Cambridgeshire, but had denied murdering them on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
However the jury did not believe her and took just 35 minutes to find her guilty of murder. | However the jury did not believe her and took just 35 minutes to find her guilty of murder. |
I am haunted by the horror of the events of that night and probably will remain so for a very long time David Baker Rekha Kumari-Baker's ex-husband | |
She has already spent two years and 92 days in custody and therefore has at least 30 years and 273 days left of her sentence. | She has already spent two years and 92 days in custody and therefore has at least 30 years and 273 days left of her sentence. |
The judge said the Parole Board would not consider her for release until 2040, when she will be 72. | The judge said the Parole Board would not consider her for release until 2040, when she will be 72. |
In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor John Farmer after she was convicted of murder, Mr Baker told of the "incalculable" loss he had suffered. | In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor John Farmer after she was convicted of murder, Mr Baker told of the "incalculable" loss he had suffered. |
"Having them taken away from me in such a brutal way and by the woman who was their mother... has had an incalculable effect," Mr Baker said in his statement. | "Having them taken away from me in such a brutal way and by the woman who was their mother... has had an incalculable effect," Mr Baker said in his statement. |
Psychiatrists concluded Kumari-Baker was not clinically depressed | Psychiatrists concluded Kumari-Baker was not clinically depressed |
"I am haunted by the horror of the events of that night and probably will remain so for a very long time." | "I am haunted by the horror of the events of that night and probably will remain so for a very long time." |
Mr Baker's statement continued: "I suffered from strong feelings of guilt that I didn't see it coming, and helplessness that I have not been able to do anything about it. | Mr Baker's statement continued: "I suffered from strong feelings of guilt that I didn't see it coming, and helplessness that I have not been able to do anything about it. |
"She tore them from us all and life can't be the same for those who remain." | "She tore them from us all and life can't be the same for those who remain." |
Prosecutors had said Kumari-Baker was trying to "wreak havoc" on her ex-husband. | Prosecutors had said Kumari-Baker was trying to "wreak havoc" on her ex-husband. |
She argued that she had been suffering from a mental disorder and mounted a "diminished responsibility defence". | She argued that she had been suffering from a mental disorder and mounted a "diminished responsibility defence". |
Mr Baker said he had been incapable of working since and had attended counselling, but found it of little help. | Mr Baker said he had been incapable of working since and had attended counselling, but found it of little help. |
The 33-year minimum sentence is one of the longest jail terms given to a woman in the UK in modern times. | |
Rose West and Myra Hindley got whole life tarriffs. | Rose West and Myra Hindley got whole life tarriffs. |