Murder accused 'not mentally ill'

Rekha Kumari-Baker denies murdering her two daughters

A psychiatrist has told a court a woman accused of killing her two daughters was not suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attacks.

Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, of Stretham, Cambridgeshire, denies murdering Davina, 16, and Jasmine, 13 in 2007.

Cambridge Crown Court heard she told a psychiatrist she was on "autopilot" when she attacked the girls.

Ms Kumari-Baker is expected to argue she was suffering from an "abnormality of mind".

Dr Neil Hunt, a consultant psychiatrist, told jurors that he interviewed Ms Kumari-Baker on the day she was arrested following the alleged incident at her home.

Unusual behaviour

He said the accused told him she had woken early in the morning, had a drink, went to the bathroom, then picked up knives.

Dr Hunt said Ms Kumari-Baker told him she went out for a drive after the attack then returned home and realised she was drenched in blood.

"She said, 'This was not supposed to happen. I love my girls'," Dr Hunt told jurors.

He said: "Given the extreme and unusual behaviour, I was concerned that there was a high chance that she may be suffering from a mental disorder.

"I didn't think she had any serious mental illness. I didn't think there was evidence of any mental illness."

The hearing continues.