Mother who drowned her young twins will not face murder trial

A mother who admitted drowning her young twins last Christmas after her marriage broke down will not face trial for their murder.

Samantha Ford, 38, had pleaded guilty to their manslaughter by diminished responsibility, but denied murdering Jake and Chloe Ford - who were 23 months old - on Boxing Day.

A day later, after her car was involved in a crash with a lorry in Kent, police went to her home in Margate and found the twins' bodies.

Ford later admitted she had drowned them after the breakdown of her relationship with her husband.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey, Ford's plea to the lesser charge was accepted following a psychiatric report.

Prosecutor Ed Brown QC said: "We have considered all the reports and all the facts to do with this case very carefully. It is a case of great sensitivity in all respects.

"I have taken instructions from those instructing me, and the father of the deceased children has of course been consulted in respect of this question.

"The result of those consultations are that those pleas are to be acceptable and the Crown does not ask for a trial in respect of those two counts of murder."

Ford, who remains in custody, was not required to attend the brief hearing, where a further psychiatric report to examine her current mental state was ordered.

Sentencing was adjourned until 26 July when a disposal under the Mental Health Act will be considered.

A judge accepted the prosecution's decision, saying the reasons would become "obvious" at the next hearing.