Mother sentenced for children's manslaughter

The children's father, Gary Clarence, was in South Africa at the time of the deaths. Photo: BBC

A woman who killed her three children by smothering them has been sentenced to be detained under a hospital order.

Tania Clarence, mother who killed her three disabled children in London, sentenced at Old Bailey to hospital order http://t.co/knLi7sChKE

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 18, 2014

Tania Clarence, 43, of New Malden, south-west London, admitted the manslaughter of three-year-old twin sons Ben and Max, and daughter Olivia, aged four, due to diminished responsibility.
The children, who all had type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, were found at their home on 22 April.
She was sentenced at the Old Bailey.
During sentencing Justice Sweeney said Clarence had been "overwhelmed" by her family's situation.
He told the court she had a history of mental illness and was vulnerable at the time but had been of previous good character.