I'm also new to the forum and have been reading this forum this thread with great interest. Lots of great reporting and information on here, so thanks very much to those who have contributed, particularly to those who have reported from court.
It's a horribly fascinating case, with an extra angle of interest for me because I'm fairly certain JG is a girl I was friendly with when we were both teenagers, so about 19 years ago. She's changed a lot physically but I'm fairly sure it's her. But I think it's probably best not to say more about that until after the verdict.
Re, her mental state. People have mentioned BPD before in this thread and I really think that is very, very likely. It involves very rapid intense feelings in relationships, tipping into obsession, but also a huge fear of real or imagined abandonment and frantic attempts to prevent the abandonment happening.
So falling in love very quickly and deeply with BB, becoming obsessed with him. But also getting pregnant very quickly, constant pregnancies to try and keep him, casting spells, saying prayers, covering up violence, covering up violence towards the children, wanting E back just to cement a family, prioritising the children above him, lying about having suspected cancer, made up illnesses, thinking a baby boy was needed - all these things indicate BPD. Plus the alcohol abuse, manipulation, impulsive behaviour, constant lying and detachment from reality.
IIRC though, as a personality disorder rather than a mental illness it's no defence. Only possibly a mitigation in sentencing. Because they don't actually prevent you knowing right from wrong, they just make you, sort of, not care.
I wouldn't be surprised for that diagnosis to be wheeled out if there is a guilty verdict. Anyway, suffice to say I am glad that it went poorly for her to say.
If she does go down I will recount some of my experiences with her. Does anybody know when the verdict is expected.