Sasikala Navaneethan (37) of Sri Lankan origin, admitted to the crime before Old Bailey court on Monday, saying she was unable to cope with her shopkeeper husband, who she alleged was having affairs with two women.
Sasikala confessed that after stabbing her son Shanjayan (5) and daughter Sharani (4) she cut the throat of her six-month-old baby girl Trishana, who was fortunately saved.
The incident occurred in May last year at the family’s residence in Park Lane, Carshalton, south London, where police found the three children lined up on a bed.
The woman pleaded guilty to the offences, including the manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.
She was sent to a mental hospital by the court, which heard that she suffered from depression.
Published 21 July 2009, 16:08 IST