Disabled brothers 'unlawfully killed'

Robert and Richard Turnbull - died in their 20s

A mother asked her severely disabled son to forgive her as she suffocated him and his brother, an inquest has heard.

Janquil Melody Turnbull gave her sons Richard, 20, and Robert, 23, an overdose before smothering them with a pillow.

Coroner John Matthews recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at the inquest in Newport, Isle of Wight, on Monday.

Turnbull, 53, was sentenced to three years' probation at Winchester Crown Court last June after she admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

The coroner took the unusual step of calling the inquest after criminal proceedings, to explain in more detail the tragic circumstances of the deaths.

'Precious little boys'

In a police interview read out at the hearing, Mrs Turnbull described how she put her sons to bed after the drugs overdose on October 19, 1999, at the family's home in Bembridge.

"I went into Richard and looked at him and I said this is awful. I said it's got to end Richard, I do love you so, please forgive me and I put a pillow over his face," she said.

She added: "They were the most precious little boys in the world."

The inquest heard that Mrs Turnbull and her husband Ron, 57, had cared for their sons all their lives without help, even though both sons had severe cerebral palsy and were unable to help themselves.

Ronald Turnbull wept as his wife's interview was read to the inquest

Mrs Turnbull, who did not attend the hearing, said she could not cope any more with looking after the boys, but was "paranoid" that social services would put them in a home.

A public inquiry into the conduct of social services and the health authority on the island is now underway.

Mr Matthews said: "It would be a crushing burden to have one of these children with disabilities, but Mr and Mrs Turnbull had two children and for the entirety of their lives they showed classic and extreme self-denying devotion for them.

He said the authorities, who the parents had chosen not to involve, had been surprised by the extent of the brothers' disabilities, but added that their attitude did not seem uncaring.

He said he could not condone Mrs Turnbull's actions but added: "The sympathies of everyone with normal feelings must extend to the parents."

Mr Turnbull, who has stood by his wife, left during the reading of his wife's police interviews, visibly upset. The couple now live in Ashford, Kent.