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Fiona Donnison guilty of child murders Child-murders mother Fiona Donnison jailed for life
(about 3 hours later)
A mother accused of killing her two young children has been found guilty of their murders. A mother found guilty of murdering her two young children has been sentenced to a minimum of 32 years in prison.
Fiona Donnison, 45, of Lightwater, Surrey, had denied the murder of Harry, aged three, and two-year-old Elise, in a trial at Lewes Crown Court.Fiona Donnison, 45, of Lightwater, Surrey, had denied the murder of Harry, aged three, and two-year-old Elise, in a trial at Lewes Crown Court.
Their bodies were found in holdalls in the boot of Ms Donnison's car, near the former family home in East Sussex. Their bodies were found in holdalls in the boot of Donnison's car, near the former family home in East Sussex.
The prosecution claimed she killed them to hurt their father, Paul. The defence claimed she had depression at the time. Donnison was jailed for life, with a minimum tariff of 32 years, following the killings in January 2010.
Judge Mr Justice Nicol described the murders as "deliberate and wicked acts".
He said: "The premature end of such young lives would have been a tragedy, but this was no accident.
"You killed them, you who were their mother. Why you did this defies logical explanation.
"It seems it can only have something to do with your feelings for Paul Donnison, the children's father and your former partner."
'Ultimate pawns''Ultimate pawns'
Donnison chose to stay in the cells as the jury returned its unanimous verdict. Donnison leaned forward against the wall of the dock with her head bowed as she was given two life sentences.
Judge Mr Justice Nicol adjourned proceedings until 14:15 BST when Donnison is expected to be sentenced. Earlier, she chose to stay in the cells as the jury returned its unanimous verdict.
Jurors heard claims Ms Donnison, a former City worker, used the children as the "ultimate pawns", by killing them in order to hurt their father in the most extreme way possible. Jurors heard claims Donnison, a former City worker, used the children as the "ultimate pawns", in her vendetta against their father.
Prosecutors told the court she smothered the children with their bedding before putting their bodies in the car.Prosecutors told the court she smothered the children with their bedding before putting their bodies in the car.
Ms Donnison declined to give evidence herself during the trial.Ms Donnison declined to give evidence herself during the trial.
But the defence argued she had suffered from depression at the time and said the charges should be reduced to manslaughter.But the defence argued she had suffered from depression at the time and said the charges should be reduced to manslaughter.
Jurors heard from mental health professionals who said she swallowed a blade from a pencil sharpener earlier this year, could not remember events surrounding the deaths, and could not bring herself to say the children's names. Jurors heard from mental health professionals who said she swallowed a blade from a pencil sharpener earlier this year, could not remember events surrounding the deaths and could not bring herself to say the children's names.