GUILTY UK - Samantha Ford charged with murder of her twins children, Margate, 27 Dec 2018

[MediocreJelly]

I think it would be unusual to mention his face if his face wasn't actually hit. It's an unusual metaphor otherwise.

Are you in the US? I am a Brit and I would more naturally read his "punch in the face" as a metaphor. Particularly with the "my face hurts" portion. It reads as psuedo-flippant to me, as in he is in real (emotional) pain but doesn't *quite* want to say it. It reads as typically British male.

However, it could well be literal, just wanted to add a cultural perception as I would 100% read that as metaphorical from any british man I know if I had no additional info.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I think a more typically British version would be "a slap in the face" or "a kick in the teeth"
Having said that, I also initially read it as a metaphor. We'll probably never know.

 

[MediocreJelly]

I think a more typically British version would be "a slap in the face" or "a kick in the teeth"
Having said that, I also initially read it as a metaphor. We'll probably never know.

Yes, I agree those would be more typical, but like you I would initially read this in the same vein. I have heard "punch in the face" as a metaphor, and I just thought maybe it sounded more literal to Americans. Hard to know one way or the other really.

ETA

Actually I think perhaps "a slap in the face" or "a kick in the teeth" would be used for more betrayal type incidents than a partner leaving (assuming that's what happened in this case). I'd consider those more akin to something like a friend sleeping with your partner after you've shown them hospitality or a colleague taking credit for work you've helped them with. A punch in the face to me sounds more like a violent shock that may not have been *literally* violent.

All MOO and could well be wrong

 

[Tortoise]

No no no I'm a Brit!

I would say either kick or punch in the gut if I was speaking metaphorically, but if you say it's common I'm probably out of the loop. But I don't think I'd say my face hurts afterwards. As Cags said, we'll probably not find out, unless it comes up in the trial.

 

[Tortoise]

Plea hearing in this case tomorrow.

 

[Tortoise]

Can't find any court updates, possibly the date for the plea hearing has been moved. But the Inquest is due to start in April even though her trial is due to start on June 3rd:

"The coroner's office has confirmed on its website that a hearing into how the babies died will be held on Wednesday, April 24 at 10am.

This date could change as it will only take place once the result of their mother's trial has been heard."

Uplifting 12 words by father of ‘murdered’ Margate twins as inquest date is set

 

[Alyce]

Just found this - looks as though the PTP has been moved back


Samantha Ford, aged 37, of Castle Drive, Margate will next appear before Maidstone Crown Court on 31 January 2019.


Maidstone Crown Court hearing for woman charged with murder of children in Margate

 

[Tortoise]

Samantha Ford, 37, of Castle Drive, Margate, has been charged with the murder of Jake and Chloe Ford. Her case was briefly heard during a directions hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 31 January 2019.

No plea was entered and she will next appear at the same court on Friday 17 May 2019.

Father's heartbreaking poem to twins 'murdered by their mother'

 

[Tortoise]

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC was told Ford, 37, had been transferred from Bronzefield Prison in Ashford, Surrey, to the secure Trevor Gibbens Unit at Maidstone Hospital.

“I am troubled that no medical evidence is in prospect until the end of April,” he said at the latest hearing.

Ford’s QC Brenda Campbell said: “We understand the issues are not straightforward. At the moment, very little is known about what happened on December 26/27. We are acting in very difficult circumstances.”

The trial before a High Court judge has been set for June 24.

Grieving dad attends court hearing

 

[Tortoise]

From yesterday:

Ford appeared in the dock for the 15-minute hearing at the Old Bailey today.

The softy-spoken mother, who appeared in the dock wearing a white blouse and black blazer, pleaded not guilty to murdering Jake and Chloe Ford last Boxing Day.

She pleaded guilty to their manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

The case was adjourned for prosecutors to decide on whether they accept her manslaughter plea or proceed to a murder trial.

Mum admits killing her twin babies

 

[Tortoise]

Ford was remanded in custody and will next appear before the court on 10 June to learn whether her pleas to manslaughter are acceptable.

If the pleas are not accepted a provisional trial date was set for 24 June.

Prosecutor Edward Brown QC said the Crown Prosecution Service had recently received a psychiatric report on Ms Ford.

[...]

Jake and Chloe were found dead at their mum's home in Margate, at about 3.35am on December 27, but pathologists believe they died the day before.

Mother pleads GUILTY to killing her 23-month-old twins over Christmas but denies murder | Daily Mail Online

 

[JerseyGirl]

Prosecution lawyers have accepted Samantha Ford's guilty plea to manslaughterby diminished responsibility, which she made last month.

Sentencing will be 26 July.

No murder trial for mum who killed twins

 

[HayLouise]

Josie Hannett‏ @JosieHannett

The CPS has accepted a guilty manslaughter plea from 38-year-old Samantha Ford over the killing of her twin children Jake and Chloe Ford in Margate over Christmas in 2018. She will not face trial for murder. @LyndaHardynews is at The Old Bailey for @bbcsoutheast

Josie Hannett on Twitter

 

[Tortoise]

Mr Justice Edis is expected to sentence her later after hearing further evidence from psychiatrists.

(Much more to read at link - sorry haven't got time to copy over right now)

'Materialistic' mother, 38, drowned children then deliberately crashed | Daily Mail Online

 

[Alyce]

Sentencing August 16

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Mr Ford told the court he felt guilty for the twin's deaths and had no idea that anything was wrong when he dropped them back at Ford's on Boxing Day:

'At the time of their deaths I was at home watching a film. It pains me every day. I should have known something was wrong; 27 minutes is all it took for her to commit the most heinous spiteful act on two innocent defenceless children.

I have no doubt in my mind she has done this with the intention of ending her life and hurting me in the process. I know her character and how she behaves when things don't go in her way. I understand she was in a depressive state and also struggling emotionally.. But I think she still knew what was right from wrong.

How I wish I had never taken them back to her. I only did this because I thought every mum deserves to be with their kids. I believe what happened here is an extreme version of her character. Like a tantrum. She knew it was the ultimate punishment.'

What a wicked, wicked woman. I believe this was predominantly revenge against her ex. Of course her mental health issues exacerbated her anger, and I have sympathy with this, but I agree with Mr Ford that she planned to die and killing the twins was her way of punishing him after she'd gone. Sick and twisted.

 

[Tortoise]

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Muzzaffar Hussain, who has treated Ford, said her actions could be attributed to a "narcissistic rage" at her perceived humiliation at the hands of her husband.

[...]

"I don't deny that she is ill but I think there's a wish to come across more severely unwell than she is and there's a part of that that's coloured the narrative a little bit."

Brenda Campbell QC, for Ford, said there had been 76 communications between Ford and mental health services in the weeks before the killings.

Mum drowned twins 'to punish estranged husband'

 

[Alyce]

76 Surely a huge red flag

or did he just think there was no way she would harm her children

 

[CoverMeCagney]

76 Surely a huge red flag

or did he just think there was no way she would harm her children

Is Brenda Campbell working for Mr or Mrs Ford? Mr might not know there had been so many communications... surely he wouldn't let the kids go back to her if he did. It does seem like other family members knew she was in crisis, but I still believe she did this out of spite and should be punished accordingly.

 

[Alyce]

Is Brenda Campbell working for Mr or Mrs Ford? Mr might not know there had been so many communications... surely he wouldn't let the kids go back to her if he did. It does seem like other family members knew she was in crisis, but I still believe she did this out of spite and should be punished accordingly.

Brenda Campbell is Samantha Ford's QC

I agree, it is quite possible Mr Ford did not know the level of crisis/ amount and type of communication with mental health services.