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Mother pleads guilty to killing her toddler twins

Samantha Ford admits manslaughter by diminished responsibility

Samuel Osborne
Tuesday 28 May 2019 12:01 EDT
Jake and Chloe were found dead at their home in Castle Drive, Margate, on 27 December
Jake and Chloe were found dead at their home in Castle Drive, Margate, on 27 December (SWNS)

A mother has pleaded guilty to killing her infant twins.

Samantha Ford admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility of Jake and Chloe Ford, both 23 months old.

The 38-year-old denied murdering the children on Boxing Day last year, at a hearing at London's Old Bailey.

The twins were found dead at their Margate home on 27 December.

Ford had been involved in a car crash and told rescuers to check the property because the babies were there.

Police officers found the twins who were taken to hospital but later pronounced dead.

Prosecutor Edward Brown QC said the Crown Prosecution Service had recently received a psychiatric report on Ford.

He said: “We the prosecution are meeting tomorrow to discuss the contents and the background of this case. Certain steps have to be taken and ultimately we are using for the decision to be communicated to my learned friend’s instructing solicitors and to the court of course by Wednesday 5 June.”

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Ford is due to face a trial at Maidstone Crown Court starting on 24 June.

A further hearing was set for 10 June and the defendant was remanded into custody.

Additional reporting by agencies

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