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Mother questioned over deaths of two children in Wandsworth Mother questioned over deaths of two children in Wandsworth
(about 9 hours later)
Postmortem examinations are to be carried out on two young children who were found apparently smothered to death at their home in south London. Further postmortem examinations are to be carried out on two young children found apparently smothered to death at their home in south London, after initial tests found no formal cause of death. Scotland Yard said the deaths were still being treated as murder.
A 10-week-old boy, Tej, and a 14-month-old girl, Lily, were discovered unconscious by their father, Jeff Boots, when he arrived home on Wednesday night. A 10-week-old boy, Tej, and a 14-month-old girl, Lily, were discovered unconscious by their father, Jeff Boots, when he arrived home on Wednesday night. Their mother, Felicia Boots, 34, was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody. She is understood to have been medically examined and deemed fit for questioning.
Their mother, Felicia Boots, 34, was arrested at the scene and remains in Met police custody. She is understood to have been medically examined and deemed fit for questioning. Detectives, who say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths, were on Friday granted an extension until Saturday to charge or release her or request further time. Police suspect she may have been suffering from postnatal depression. The house remained sealed off as examinations continued inside.
Detectives were granted an extension on Friday and have until Saturday morning to charge or release her or request further time. Mr Boots, an investment banker, and his wife, a hairdresser and stylist who had set up an online jewellery business, are understood to have moved to the UK in recent years from Canada. Neighbours said they recently moved into the semi-detached property in Wandsworth, a residential area nicknamed Nappy Valley because of the numbers of families with young children there.Flowers were laid outside the property on Friday and many of those leaving notes and tributes were in tears.
Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. The children are thought to have died as result of smothering. One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "It's just so awful. We all have children around here and it's hit us all. My friend used to walk the dog with her and she's in pieces. I can't say any more, it's too much."
The house remained sealed off on Friday, as forensic examinations continued inside. Scotland Yard said the postmortems would be carried out at Great Ormond Street hospital.
Neighbours said the family had only recently moved into the semi-detached property in Wandsworth, a residential area nicknamed Nappy Valley because of the numbers of families with young children there.
Detectives suspect Felicia Boots may have been suffering from postnatal depression.
Flowers were laid outside the property on Friday and many of those leaving notes and tributes were in tears. One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "It's just so awful. We all have children around here and it's hit us all. My friend used to walk the dog with her and she's in pieces. I can't say any more, it's too much."
She wrote on her note: "Hello, you don't know me but I just wanted to say we are sorry for your loss. You and your wife are in our thoughts and I hope you find the strength to get through this. We hope you find peace back in your lives one day. A neighbour a few roads away. God bless."She wrote on her note: "Hello, you don't know me but I just wanted to say we are sorry for your loss. You and your wife are in our thoughts and I hope you find the strength to get through this. We hope you find peace back in your lives one day. A neighbour a few roads away. God bless."
In the last few weeks, the family had been busy completing the move from a penthouse apartment nearby to their new house. The couple are understood to be from Canada and moved to London a few years ago. A tenant renting the flat that the family vacated a few weeks ago said: "They seemed like lovely people; she had just had a newborn baby when we moved in as tenants."In the last few weeks, the family had been busy completing the move from a penthouse apartment nearby to their new house. The couple are understood to be from Canada and moved to London a few years ago. A tenant renting the flat that the family vacated a few weeks ago said: "They seemed like lovely people; she had just had a newborn baby when we moved in as tenants."
Jeff Boots works as an investment banker. His wife, a hairdresser and stylist, set up an online jewellery business, Pink Tangerine.
Recent research by 4Children, a leading charity on postnatal depression, found that up to 58% of sufferers do not seek medical help, either because they do not recognise what they are going through as PND or because they fear they will be labelled a bad mother if they seek help.Recent research by 4Children, a leading charity on postnatal depression, found that up to 58% of sufferers do not seek medical help, either because they do not recognise what they are going through as PND or because they fear they will be labelled a bad mother if they seek help.
The charity found that PND was far more prevalent than previously thought, with about three in 10 new mothers experiencing the condition in the weeks after childbirth.The charity found that PND was far more prevalent than previously thought, with about three in 10 new mothers experiencing the condition in the weeks after childbirth.
Sandra Laville