PICTURED: Boys, aged two and five, ‘murdered by their mother’ – as court hears she ‘told their father they were asleep upstairs’ before he made grim discovery at home in east London
- Kara Alexander, 44, charged with murder of Elijah Thomas, two, and Marley Thomas, five
- Bodies of young boys discovered at a house in Dagenham at 2pm last Friday
- Alexander appeared at the Old Bailey today. She was remanded in custody
Smiling as they clamber along a tree trunk together, this is the first picture of the brothers, aged two and five, allegedly murdered by their mother who appeared at the Old Bailey today.
Kara Alexander, 44, was remanded in custody accused of killing Elijah Thomas and his older brother Marley at her home in Dagenham less than two weeks before Christmas.
Alexander may have smothered or drowned the boys, the court was told, but their post-mortem results have not yet been returned.
The boys’ heartbroken father is understood to be Selvin Thomas, who has shared a poignant tribute to his late sons on Facebook, suggesting that his world had gone dark.
Elijah and Marley’s bodies were found by Mr Thomas after he forced his way into the home where they died, the Old Bailey heard today. Alexander allegedly told him they were sleeping upstairs but he went to check on them and found then ‘obviously deceased and cold to the touch’ in their bedroom. He called the police, who arrested Alexander in a nearby garden.
First picture: Marley Thomas, five, and his young brother Elijah, two, who were allegedly murdered by their mother Kara Alexander
Alexander with Selvin Thomas, who is understood to be the boys’ father and discovered their bodies
Prosecutor Philip Evans KC said: ‘Post mortem results have not yet obtained. Initial subtle findings indicate the normal mechanics of breathing had been interfered with, which could include smothering and drowning.’
Alexander appeared at the Old Bailey today via video link from HMP Bronzefield wearing a grey jumper and spoke to confirm her name and date of birth.
Kara Alexander, 44, has been charged with the murder of two children. She is yet to enter pleas
She is charged with two counts of murder.
Prosecutor Philip Evans, KC, said: ‘The children were last seen alive by CCTV footage together with the defendant late in the afternoon of 15 December.
‘On 16 December at around 2pm police were called because the children’s father was concerned for their welfare.
‘He had gone into the house, having forced his way in, he was told the children were upstairs asleep.
‘But when he went to find them he discovered they were obviously deceased and cold to the touch.
‘He called 999 and an ambulance attended and found the children deceased.’
‘Post mortem results have not yet obtained, but it is understood initial subtle findings indicate the normal mechanics of breathing had been interfered with, which could include smothering and drowning.’
Kara Alexander, 44, was remanded in custody today accused of killing Elijah Thomas and his older brother Marley (pictured)
Emergency services were called at around 2pm on Friday, 16 December, to the bodies of two young children found at a residential address in Dagenham (pictured)
The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, remanded Alexander in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on March 9 and set her trial date for July 10.
Alexander was arrested on Friday in connection with the incident and was charged on Monday with two counts of murder.
A man earlier arrested in connection with the tragedy was released with no further action over the weekend.
Detective Inspector Sean Treweek said at the time: ‘This is clearly an extremely distressing incident with many unanswered questions, however at this very early stage, nobody else is sought in connection with the deaths.
‘I want to thank local people for the assistance they have given officers as they work to establish the full circumstances of these two tragic deaths.
‘They will see additional officers in the area, and anyone with information or concerns should speak with those officers.’
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