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Father jailed for child murders | Father jailed for child murders |
(40 minutes later) | |
A father who made a "farewell video" of his two children before strangling them has been jailed for life after being convicted of their murders. | |
Petros Williams killed Yolanda Molemohi, four, and two-year-old Theo Molemohi at his flat in Whalley Range, Manchester, last October. | Petros Williams killed Yolanda Molemohi, four, and two-year-old Theo Molemohi at his flat in Whalley Range, Manchester, last October. |
In the video shown to Manchester Crown Crown, Williams, 37, urged the children to say goodbye to their mother. | In the video shown to Manchester Crown Crown, Williams, 37, urged the children to say goodbye to their mother. |
He has been told he will serve a minimum of 28 years in prison. | He has been told he will serve a minimum of 28 years in prison. |
Mr Justice Parker, sentencing, said it was "hard to conceive any more shocking crime". | Mr Justice Parker, sentencing, said it was "hard to conceive any more shocking crime". |
The court was told that Zimbabwe-born Williams deliberately chose internet connection cords to choke the children to punish his wife for using dating websites after the breakdown of their marriage. | The court was told that Zimbabwe-born Williams deliberately chose internet connection cords to choke the children to punish his wife for using dating websites after the breakdown of their marriage. |
'Bye Mummy' | |
His wife, Morongoe Molemohi, 30, had started using the websites to see other men, the jury was told. | His wife, Morongoe Molemohi, 30, had started using the websites to see other men, the jury was told. |
Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, said he killed them as a "symbolic act of punishment" to his wife. | Andrew Thomas QC, prosecuting, said he killed them as a "symbolic act of punishment" to his wife. |
It is hard to conceive any more shocking crime than a parent deliberately taking the life of his or her child Mr Justice Parker | It is hard to conceive any more shocking crime than a parent deliberately taking the life of his or her child Mr Justice Parker |
The video tape shows the children sitting in the living room with Williams initially behind the camera before he joined them on the sofa and told them: "Say, 'bye Mummy'." | |
The tape was labelled, "Daddy, Yolly, Theo. Byee The End". | |
There was a note attached which said, "Play the video, made for your memories, thank you, Petros". | |
Williams, who had denied two counts of murder, was found guilty by the jury after 90 minutes of deliberation. | Williams, who had denied two counts of murder, was found guilty by the jury after 90 minutes of deliberation. |
He had tried to blame his wife for the killings, but the judge said there was "no doubt" he had intended to kill them. | He had tried to blame his wife for the killings, but the judge said there was "no doubt" he had intended to kill them. |
"It is hard to conceive any more shocking crime than a parent deliberately taking the life of his or her child," he said," said Mr Justice Parker. | "It is hard to conceive any more shocking crime than a parent deliberately taking the life of his or her child," he said," said Mr Justice Parker. |
The video of Yolanda and Theo Molemohi was shown to the court | The video of Yolanda and Theo Molemohi was shown to the court |
"We saw from the video that Yolanda and Theo were happy children, full of love and laughter, with a whole lifetime ahead of them and, above all, absolute trust in their father who, for entirely selfish purposes, would end their brief lives." | |
Ms Molemohi discovered the bodies of her children in Williams' one-bedroom flat. | Ms Molemohi discovered the bodies of her children in Williams' one-bedroom flat. |
Her estranged husband was lying beside them dazed, but uninjured, next to a noose. | Her estranged husband was lying beside them dazed, but uninjured, next to a noose. |
He was arrested at the scene. | He was arrested at the scene. |
Giving evidence during his trial, Williams denied strangling the pair and claimed to have entered the room in darkness before unknowingly sleeping next to their bodies. | Giving evidence during his trial, Williams denied strangling the pair and claimed to have entered the room in darkness before unknowingly sleeping next to their bodies. |
The couple moved to the UK in 2002 and had lived in Whalley Road since 2004. Their marriage suffered difficulties and both had affairs, the jury was told. |