Murder case told of 'chilling abuse'

A mother murdered her daughter, poisoned another and seriously injured a third in "a chilling catalogue of child abuse", Nottingham Crown Court was told yesterday.

Celia Beckett, 34, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, is accused of killing four-year-old daughter Tracey in 1986; causing fatal brain damage to another daughter, Clare, in 1984, when she was five months old; and poisoning a third daughter, Debbie, and causing her cruelty. The jury was told that the case represented a catalogue of errors by social services and police.

Beckett denies all the charges and says the children helped themselves to her anti-depressant drugs. The case continues.