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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." |
| Speaking outside court, Mr Donnison, 48, said the pain his family had suffered was "almost unbearable." | |
| He also criticised the criminal justice system, saying it was "biased" in favour of the person on trial and his former partner had been treated "with kid gloves". | |
| 'Ultimate pawns' | 'Ultimate pawns' |
| Following the sentencing, it can also be revealed that prosecutors attempted to have Donnison tried for the murder of her first child with Mr Donnison. | Following the sentencing, it can also be revealed that prosecutors attempted to have Donnison tried for the murder of her first child with Mr Donnison. |
| After the deaths of Harry and Elise, investigators decided to look again at the circumstances behind the death of nine-month-old Mia, who died of a suspected cot death in April 2004. | After the deaths of Harry and Elise, investigators decided to look again at the circumstances behind the death of nine-month-old Mia, who died of a suspected cot death in April 2004. |
| Prosecutors said that "taken together" there was sufficient evidence for a jury to consider a murder charge in her case. | Prosecutors said that "taken together" there was sufficient evidence for a jury to consider a murder charge in her case. |
| But at a pre-trial hearing, Mr Justice Cooke ruled to dismiss the charge of murdering Mia, saying there was no direct evidence in relation to her death. | But at a pre-trial hearing, Mr Justice Cooke ruled to dismiss the charge of murdering Mia, saying there was no direct evidence in relation to her death. |
| Donnison had earlier chosen to stay in the cells as the jury returned its unanimous guilty verdict. | Donnison had earlier chosen to stay in the cells as the jury returned its unanimous guilty 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. |
| 'Calculating killer' | 'Calculating killer' |
| But prosecutors dismissed this, pointing to the level of planning involved in the killings. | |
| 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. |
| Prosecutor Libby Clark said: "Harry and Elise were regarded as delightful, well-mannered and affectionate children by all who came into contact with them. | 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. | "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." | "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." |