North Rhine-Westphalia: Two children suffocated: 14 years in prison for the mother

According to the judges, a mother from Herne kills two children by putting a blanket over their airways.

North Rhine-Westphalia: Two children suffocated: 14 years in prison for the mother

According to the judges, a mother from Herne kills two children by putting a blanket over their airways. Many years after the crimes were discovered, the Bochum jury passed its verdict.

Bochum (dpa / lnw) - The Bochum jury has sentenced a 34-year-old mother from Herne to 14 years in prison for double manslaughter. Judges found Monday that the defendant killed two of her three sons in November 2011 and May 2012 by covering their airways with a blanket or pillow for several minutes. The first child was two and a half months old at the time of the crime, the second 19 months old.

In both cases, the judges assume that the German was overwhelmed with the care of the children. Both boys were taken to a hospital after the crimes, where the doctors were able to resuscitate them. Ultimately, however, the medical measures could not prevent the death of the children.

One of the paediatricians testified as a witness at the trial that he had noticed the woman as "very emotionless and factual". When he brought her the news of her child's dramatic state of health, the accused only asked if she could now order an undertaker.

The investigations against the 34-year-old had started after a third son was hospitalized with breathing difficulties in 2018. However, the judges were unable to determine with certainty that the mother tried to kill the child in this case as well. The defendant remained silent throughout the court hearing. (Az: 7 Ks 19/22)