Mother charged over triple murders

A woman wept yesterday as she appeared in court charged with the murder of her three young disabled children.

Tania Clarence, aged 42, looked over at her husband and broke down in tears as she stood in the dock accused of killing her three-year-old twin sons, Ben and Max, and four year-old daughter, Olivia, at their home.

Her investment banker husband, Gary, aged 43, also broke down in tears as he locked eyes with his wife from his seat in the public gallery during the brief hearing yesterday at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court.

Wearing a black suit and white shirt, Mr Clarence walked into court supported by a group of people believed to be family and friends.

He hugged two women in the public gallery before sitting down to watch the proceedings.

Wearing a grey top with a white long-sleeved top underneath, his wife looked fragile as she stood in the glass-fronted dock, accused of the triple murder.

Her voice shaking with emotion, she spoke only to confirm her name, age, and address.

Ms Clarence is accused of three counts of murdering a child aged over one between April 20 and 23.

All three of the young children were said to have suffered from spinal muscular atrophy.

Also known as floppy baby syndrome, the genetic condition leaves children with very little control of their movements and can drastically shorten their life expectancy.

Police were called to the family’s five-bedroom home in Thetford Road in the wealthy south west London suburb of New Malden at 9.30pm on Tuesday night where they discovered the bodies.

Mrs Clarence — who also has a healthy eight-year-old daughter — was arrested shortly afterwards.

Mr Clarence, who works at the City bank Investec, is said to have been away in the family’s native South Africa with their eldest daughter at the time of the deaths.

No formal plea was entered and Ms Clarence was remanded in custody.

Chairwoman of the bench Fiona Abbott said: “For these three charges you will be sent to the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on 9 May.

“There will be a bail application at the Central Criminal Court at 10am on 29 April.”

Two uniformed police officers stood guard outside the courtroom and the public gallery was packed with press during yesterday’s short hearing.

Ms Clarence is originally from South Africa and moved to Britain with her husband some years ago.

Mr Clarence was escorted out of the court by police officers and driven away in a black taxi.

He did not say anything as he walked down the court steps and through a scrum of photographers.

A female police officer stopped traffic to allow Mr Clarence to be driven off quickly.