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Child-murders mother Fiona Donnison jailed for life | Child-murders mother Fiona Donnison jailed for life |
(40 minutes later) | |
A mother found guilty of murdering her two young children has been sentenced to a minimum of 32 years in prison. | 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 murders 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 murders 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 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. |
Donnison was jailed for life, with a minimum tariff of 32 years, following the killings in January 2010. | 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". | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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 had earlier chosen to stay in the cells as the jury returned its unanimous verdict. | Donnison had earlier chosen to stay in the cells as the jury returned its unanimous verdict. |
Jurors heard claims Donnison, a former City worker, used the children as the "ultimate pawns", in her vendetta against their father. | 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. |
Donnison declined to give evidence during the trial. | Donnison declined to give evidence 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 Donnison 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 Donnison 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. |
But prosecutors dismissed this, pointing to the level of planning involved in the killings. | But prosecutors dismissed this, pointing to the level of planning involved in the killings. |
'Calculating killer' | |
One clinical psychologist said she believed Donnison to have been "100% likely to be feigning" psychological problems or symptoms. | One clinical psychologist said she believed Donnison to have been "100% likely to be feigning" psychological problems or symptoms. |
Donnison was also described in court as a narcissist with an overdeveloped sense of self-importance and entitlement. | Donnison was also described in court as a narcissist with an overdeveloped sense of self-importance and entitlement. |
She was made redundant in July 2009, which was said to have been a massive blow to her ego and it was also thought to have contributed to events. | She was made redundant in July 2009, which was said to have been a massive blow to her ego and it was also thought to have contributed to events. |
Prosecutor Libby Clark said: "Harry and Elise were regarded as delightful, well-mannered and affectionate children by all who came into contact with them. | |
"Their lives were ended in a sudden and brutal act of revenge by the their mother. | |
"The jury has accepted the Crown's case that Fiona Donnison was not the victim she portrayed herself to be, but a calculating killer of her own children." |