«I came back, they were already dead»: Mykolaiv court remanded a mother whose children were poisoned by carbon monoxide

The Central District Court of Mykolaiv has remanded in custody with the possibility of bail a 34-year-old woman suspected of the deaths of two children — a four-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl.

This was reported by a correspondent of NikVesti from the courtroom.

The day before, it became known that law enforcement officers were investigating a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of children. On 28 October, the police served the mother with a notice of suspicion under Article 135 (3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation notes that the children went into the bathroom and filled it with hot water. At that time, the gas water heater in the kitchen went off and started burning large amounts of natural gas. The bathtub began to fill with steam and carbon monoxide from the running water heater. This is what led to their deaths.

At today's hearing, the court was choosing a preventive measure for the mother. Judge Olesia Deminska asked the suspect whether she pleaded guilty. She answered yes. The suspect was asked if she could tell what caused the children's deaths:

«I left home at 10pm in the evening. When I returned, the children were already dead,» the mother said.

The prosecutor of the Mykolaiv regional prosecutor's office asked whether someone else could have switched on the water. However, the woman denied this.

After that, the prosecutor asked for a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention for 60 days without bail. In turn, the suspect's defence lawyer asked to deny the prosecutor's request, citing the fact that there was no one to bury the dead children but her.

«We all understand that this is a high-profile case. But there are circumstances that I cannot remain silent about. Firstly, there is no evidence of the risk of committing other offences. She pleads guilty and has no intention of hiding from the investigation and court. She cannot leave Ukraine. In addition, there is the issue of burying the children. No one else will do this except her. She needs to pay her last respects to the children,» the lawyer said.

The suspect herself also asked the judge not to put her under arrest in order to say goodbye to her children.

«I ask to be left free. I repent. I am guilty. I know I am guilty, but at least I will say goodbye to my children,» the suspect addressed the judge.

Judge Olesia Deminska partially granted the motion — the woman was placed under arrest until 25 December, but with the possibility of bail in the amount of 121,000 hryvnias.

As a reminder, a 41-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison in Mykolaiv for the brutal murder of his girlfriend. According to the investigation, he beat her, strangled her, and then dumped her body in the yard of his house.