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Lianne Smith 'calm' after children's deaths in Spain | Lianne Smith 'calm' after children's deaths in Spain |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A British woman who killed her two children in a hotel room in Spain was "astonishingly calm" when she showed police the bodies, a court has heard. | A British woman who killed her two children in a hotel room in Spain was "astonishingly calm" when she showed police the bodies, a court has heard. |
The Provincial Court in Girona is determining whether Lianne Smith is criminally responsible for murder. | The Provincial Court in Girona is determining whether Lianne Smith is criminally responsible for murder. |
The 45-year-old, formerly from Cumbria, has already admitted smothering Rebecca, five, and 11-month-old Daniel. | |
Her lawyer said she was in a state of "psychiatric disturbance" at the time of the deaths in May 2010. | Her lawyer said she was in a state of "psychiatric disturbance" at the time of the deaths in May 2010. |
Giving evidence, Anna Savelieva, a receptionist at the Miramar Hotel in Lloret de Mar, said Ms Smith had asked her to call emergency services. | Giving evidence, Anna Savelieva, a receptionist at the Miramar Hotel in Lloret de Mar, said Ms Smith had asked her to call emergency services. |
She described her as calm when she made the request. | She described her as calm when she made the request. |
"I asked her if she needed help and she said, 'Just call the police, I will talk with them'," she said. | "I asked her if she needed help and she said, 'Just call the police, I will talk with them'," she said. |
The first officer at the scene, Agent 504 of Lloret de Mar local police, said that when he arrived at the scene Ms Smith pointed to the bed. | The first officer at the scene, Agent 504 of Lloret de Mar local police, said that when he arrived at the scene Ms Smith pointed to the bed. |
"I saw little knuckles, a baby's knuckles, pointing out from under the sheets," he said. "First I found a baby and then a little girl, and I could see they were both dead. | "I saw little knuckles, a baby's knuckles, pointing out from under the sheets," he said. "First I found a baby and then a little girl, and I could see they were both dead. |
"The woman was calm, she was not saying anything, so I went out on the balcony and called the control room to let them know what was happening." | "The woman was calm, she was not saying anything, so I went out on the balcony and called the control room to let them know what was happening." |
Agent 2681 from the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan regional police force, was sent to the room when it became apparent that a murder investigation was under way. | Agent 2681 from the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan regional police force, was sent to the room when it became apparent that a murder investigation was under way. |
"I was shocked by her attitude, the astonishing calmness and coldness she displayed," he said. | "I was shocked by her attitude, the astonishing calmness and coldness she displayed," he said. |
The hearing had previously heard that she had tried to take her own life after the deaths. | The hearing had previously heard that she had tried to take her own life after the deaths. |
They took place after Ms Smith's partner, Martin Smith, was extradited to the UK on charges of sexually abusing a girl. | They took place after Ms Smith's partner, Martin Smith, was extradited to the UK on charges of sexually abusing a girl. |
'Relationship changed' | |
Smith, a 46-year-old former TV psychic, originally from North Shields, North Tyneside, was convicted of rape. | |
Less than a year after he was jailed for 16 years he was found hanged in his cell. | |
The couple, who share the same surname but were not married, left Lichfield, Staffordshire, for Spain in 2007 with Rebecca. Daniel was born in Spain. | The couple, who share the same surname but were not married, left Lichfield, Staffordshire, for Spain in 2007 with Rebecca. Daniel was born in Spain. |
Previously they had been living in Cumbria, where the sex offences occurred. | |
A statement from Ms Smith's mother, Doreen Smith, was read out to the court. | |
In it, she said she was unaware of Rebecca's birth until another grand-daughter told her, and only found out about Daniel after his death. | |
She added: "All I can say is that my daughter is not the same person I once knew. | |
"Her whole relationship with our family changed after she began her relationship with Martin Smith. | |
"I do not know what happened between them but I was worried from the start there would be problems. | |
"[She] would always say things were going well. It seems that was not the case." | |
The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to last four days. | The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to last four days. |
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