‘I tried to save children from social services’

A WOMAN accused of murdering her two children in a Spanish hotel room yesterday choked back tears as she told a court she tried to “protect” her children from social services.

Lianne Smith, 44, was giving evidence to Manchester Crown Court in defence of her partner, Martin Smith, 45, who is accused of a string of child sex offences.

Ms Smith spoke via a video-link from Spain where she is being held on suspicion of the murder of the couple’s two children, Rebecca, five, and son Daniel, 11 months.