Mother held as 3 children with genetic disorders found dead

A woman is being held by police on suspicion of murder after three young children were found dead at a house.

The 42-year-old is suspected of killing a 4-year-old girl and twin boys, aged 3, who are all said to have suffered from a life-limiting genetic condition.

It is understood the three children were cared for full-time by their mother Tania Clarence, while their father Gary worked as a director at Investec bank. He is currently travelling back to England from South Africa.

Police were called to the large semi-detached home in New Malden, south London, where they found the bodies late on Tuesday night.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the woman was taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries before being discharged and arrested.

Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The family, originally from South Africa, moved to the wealthy suburb around a year ago and carried out a major refurbishment of the home, which included installing a lift.

A neighbour said the three children were suffering from genetic disorders, believed to be life-limiting. An elder child, thought to be around 7 or 8 years old, was also living at the house but was in good health.

The neighbour paid tribute to the family, describing them as “really, really lovely people”, and said the parents are “a very, very lovely couple” who doted on their children.

The family are understood to have also received help from a nanny and carers.

Police have not given a cause of death for the three children, but said postmortem examinations would be carried out in due course.