New twist in children's hotel death tragedy

The investigation into the deaths of two children in a Spanish hotel room took a dramatic twist today when it emerged that they were the son and daughter of an alleged paedophile who was extradited yesterday.

Rebecca Smith, five, and her brother Daniel, aged 11 months, were found yesterday in the resort of Lloret de Mar.

Their mother Lianne has been arrested on suspicion of murder by Spanish police while their father Martin Smith appeared before magistrates in Carlisle today accused of child sex offences, Cumbria Police said.

Smith and her daughter had been missing from the Staffordshire area since December 2007.

A force spokeswoman said: “Martin Smith, 45, was brought back to the UK yesterday and appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this morning to face 13 charges of sexual offences and for failing to answer police bail.

“An application was made in court for him to be remanded in custody.

“During the court hearing it was disclosed that Spanish police have informed Cumbria Constabulary that Martin Smith’s wife, 43-year-old Lianne Smith, has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of his two children Rebecca, five, and Daniel, 11 months, in Spain.

“Lianne and Rebecca had been missing from the Staffordshire area since December 2007.”

Smith was remanded in custody and will next appear at Carlisle Crown Court on June 7.

Smith, from North Shields, who was one of Britain's most wanted men, was arrested in Barcelona on May 7.

He was put on a list of most wanted suspects thought to be hiding out in Spain.

He allegedly jumped bail in 2008 while facing charges of rape of a child under 16, gross indecency with a girl under the age of 16, indecent assault of a girl under 16 and attempted rape of a girl under 16.

His partner was detained yesterday after the children’s bodies were found in Room 101 in the Hotel Miramar.

Sources confirmed Smith was told about the deaths of the children last night.

Lianne Smith reportedly phoned reception shortly before 2pm and emergency services were called but efforts to save the youngsters failed.

Sources close to the investigation told El Mundo newspaper that police believe the youngsters were suffocated because their bodies showed no external signs of injury.

The results of post-mortem examinations are expected today or tomorrow.

After her arrest, Smith was taken to her hotel room by police and an investigating judge to help them reconstruct events leading up to the children’s deaths, El Mundo reported.

She was then transferred to a police station at Blanes, near Lloret, for questioning.