Mother 'smothered two babies to death'

Angela Cannings is on trial at Winchester Crown Court

A mother smothered two of her babies while she was alone with them in the house and claimed they were cot deaths, a court heard.

Angela Cannings, 38, is alleged to have murdered seven-week-old Jason Cannings in June 1991 and four-month-old Matthew Cannings in November 1999 as they slept in their cots.

Paul Dunkels QC, prosecuting, told the jury of eight women and four men at Winchester Crown Court that Ms Cannings was the only other person in the house when the deaths occurred.

He said: "For a mother to attack a child in this way is against nature and instinct but the prosecution will demonstrate that this is what Angela Cannings has done."

Breathing difficulties

He told the court that the two children both suffered "an apparently life-threatening event" nine days before they died.

He also told the jury Ms Cannings' first child Gemma died in November 1989 aged three months and that another child had also suffered "an apparently life-threatening event".

Ms Cannings, who denies murder, has not been charged with any offence over those two incidents.

When she checked on her she wasn't moving. She tried to revive her and called an ambulance

Barrister Paul Dunkels

Mr Dunkels described the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms Cannings' first child Gemma, who was born on 14 August 1989 and died on 14 November 1989.

He said a post-mortem examination was carried out and a consultant pathologist at Salisbury Hospital noted it as a "cot death".

He described how on 14 November 1989 Ms Cannings had taken the child to town before putting her to bed on her return.

She checked on the child a couple of hours later at 1300 GMT when she found her lifeless.

Mr Dunkels said Ms Cannings was not interviewed about the death of Gemma by police until late 1999.

Mr Dunkels said: "When she checked on her she wasn't moving. She tried to revive her and called an ambulance."

Hip condition

He pointed out to the jury they would have to judge Gemma's death as the background to how they assess what happened to Matthew and Jason.

Health visitor Gloria Peacock drove to the Ms Cannings' house for a planned visit on 4 June 1991.

But when she got there Ms Cannings opened the door and told her: "It's happened again."

Sudden distress

Ms Peacock found Jason lying on a double bed looking white.

She gave Jason mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and told Ms Cannings to call an ambulance.

An examination of Jason's blood showed a high level of white blood cells, platelets and blood glucose and Mr Dunkels said this showed he had been subject to sudden distress and there had been some interference with his breathing.

Jason was later discharged from hospital after suffering no further problems but nine days later he was dead.

Mr Dunkels said a post-mortem examination was carried out but the death was put down to cot death.

Ms Cannings also told police officers in interviews that Jason had not been right after he had been discharged from hospital.

The trial continues.