Drama unfolded in High Court today, as a young mother was found guilty of killing her two children by feeding them rat poison.
The 25-year-old woman, Awena Rutherford, collapsed as the jury returned the guilty verdict on two counts of manslaughter.
When the verdict was read out, Rutherford fell backwards, hitting her head against the docks.
Court Officers along with two other relatives spent close to 25 minutes reviving the woman as the paramedics were summoned. She eventually regained consciousness and was led out of the Court in the company of the Police, Prison officials and a medical personnel.
It was back in March 2014 when Rutherford instructed her two young children, ages four and one, to ingest the rat poison tablets.
The two children were rushed to the hospital but died while receiving treatment.
One witness who testified during the trial recalled that the woman left the house and later returned with the tablets and instructed the children to drink it for a cold that they were fighting.
The witness said the young girl was later seen vomiting as the brother fought off drinking the tablet before he was eventually forced to do so by the mother.
Both children fell ill moments later and were taken to the hospital. A Police investigation revealed that they had both been poisoned and the young mother who maintained her innocence was arrested and charged.
She will be sentenced soon.
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