Mother Convicted of Murdering Children in Bradford

17 May 2016, 13:33 | Updated: 17 May 2016, 13:35

A mother sobbed uncontrollably as she was found guilty of murdering her two young daughters.

Samira Lupidi, 24, stabbed 17-month-old Jasmine Weaver and three-year-old Evelyn Lupidi at a women's refuge in November last year, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Lupidi admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied murdering the girls.

She was found guilty of both murders by a jury of six men and six women after 90 minutes of deliberation on Tuesday.

There were shouts of "yes'' from the packed public gallery as the verdicts were read out.

Lupidi sat with her head bowed in tears as she was comforted by a security guard.

The week-long trial heard that Lupidi and the girls ended up in the refuge after she called police to her home in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire.

She told officers that the girls' father - her partner Carl Weaver, 31 - slapped her twice the night before and she was scared he was going to kill her, the court heard.

The jury was told that, the following day, staff at the refuge found Lupidi running out of the flat she had been allocated and shouting that she had "killed the children''.

Both girls were found on their beds, each with nine stab wounds to the chest.

The jury heard how the defendant had blood smeared on her hands when she ran from the room.

Lupidi admitted that she killed the girls but claimed she was suffering from diminished responsibility at the time.

She did not give evidence in the trial.

The judge, Mr Justice Edis, will sentence Lupidi later on Tuesday.