Mother sentenced to 24 years in prison for murdering two daughters in 'spasm of violence'

It took the jury just an hour and a half to find Samira Lupidi, 24, guilty of murdering the two young girls

Peter Weaver (front right), the grandfather of 17-month-old Jasmine Weaver and three-year-old Evelyn Lupidi leaves Bradford Crown Court with family members (PA)

A mother has been sentenced to at least 24 years in prison for stabbing to death her two young daughters.

Samira Lupidi, 24, killed three-year-old Evelyn Lupidi and 17-month-old Jasmine Weaver at a women's refuge in November 2015.

Mr Justice Edis presiding at Bradford Crown Court heard how Lupidi was placed in a refuge with the girls after she called police to their house in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, claiming her partner Carl Weaver had been violent.

While sentencing her in absence, Judge Edis did acknowledge she was suffering from a depressive disorder at the time of the "violent rage" which led to the killings.

He said: "I believe you killed these children in a spasm of violence triggered by a weekend of violent arguments.

"You had formed a delusional belief that you were in danger of being killed and that you were going to be abandoned and that you would not see the children again.

"You reacted to this very difficult situation by saying 'if I cannot have them, neither can he'."

Judge Edis said Lupidi stabbed each of her daughters nine times after arguments continued with her partner by phone.

He added: "This is a crime that speaks of rage and I sentence you on the basis that you killed them in anger and out of a desire for revenge.

"Even a week later you were telling the prison medical staff that the most important thing was that Carl Weaver was suffering."

Lupidi admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denied murder.

A jury of six men and six women found her guilty of murder on Tuesday after only 90 minutes of deliberation.

Lupidi, who was in court for the verdicts, sobbed uncontrollably on hearing the verdict and was comforted by a security guard.