A security van believed to be transporting Tania Clarence arrives at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where she is due to appear charged with murdering three of her children. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

A security van believed to be transporting Tania Clarence arrives at Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where she is due to appear charged with murdering three of her children. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Gary Clarence (centre) leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where his wife Tania appeared in court charged with murdering three of their children who were found dead at their house in New Malden. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Gary Clarence (left) leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where his wife Tania appeared in court charged with murdering three of their children who were found dead at their house in New Malden. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Gary Clarence leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where his wife Tania appeared in court charged with murdering three of their children who were found dead at their house in New Malden. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Gary Clarence (centre) leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where his wife Tania appeared in court charged with murdering three of their children who were found dead at their house in New Malden. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Gary Clarence leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where his wife Tania appeared in court charged with murdering three of their children who were found dead at their house in New Malden. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Gary Clarence (centre) leaves Wimbledon Magistrates Court, south west London, where his wife Tania appeared in court charged with murdering three of their children

A mother who admitted suffocating her three young disabled children before trying to kill herself will not face trial for murder, a court has heard.

Tania Clarence, 42, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Olivia, four, and three-year-old twins Ben and Max by diminished responsibility - but denied murder.

At a hearing at the Old Bailey, judge Mr Justice Sweeney accepted her plea so she will no longer face trial in the New Year.

Prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC said: "It is clear on the evidence Mrs Clarence killed her three children because she wanted to end their suffering and at the time she committed the act she could not see any alternative or any other way out of their joint suffering."

Clarence, who was not in court, will be sentenced on November 14 when she is likely to face a hospital order.

Ms Johnson told the court that in the light of medical reports, the Crown Prosecution Service accepted that Clarence was suffering from a "major depressive episode" at the time of the killings which amounted to an "abnormality of mind".

But, she said, the mother had previously held the firm belief that the quality of her children's lives was more important than their longevity - which was "entirely understandable", she said.

Jim Sturman QC, defending. said a hospital order would be the "just and compassionate" sentence.

He said: "This is a truly tragic case. Anybody who reads the evidence cannot fail to be moved.

"This offending did occur whilst Mrs Clarence was suffering from an abnormality of the mind. She was manifesting stress throughout the life of the children by their suffering and caring for three children with this condition was exhausting, distressing, debilitating and turned out to be overwhelming."

He said as a result of her illness Clarence had "no hope for the future" and her suicide attempt was genuine.

Mr Sturman said that, at the time, Clarence "bitterly regretted" that she had survived but now bitterly regrets the death of her children.

Clarence's husband Gary was in court for the brief hearing before Mr Justice Sweeney.

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