Weed-smoking Mother Jailed for Life for Drowning Her Two Young Sons

A 47-year-old mother who regularly smoked high-strength cannabis has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 252 days for the murder of her two young sons. Kara Alexander, of Dagenham, east London, was convicted of drowning Elijah Thomas, aged two, and Marley Thomas, aged five, in the bath at their home in December 2022.

At Kingston Crown Court, Mr Justice Bennathan delivered the sentence, emphasizing the dangers of potent cannabis strains and their potential to trigger severe mental health crises.

The boys’ father, Selvin Thomas, discovered his sons’ lifeless bodies tucked into their bunk beds after Alexander had killed them and then fled the house. He had been due to see them that weekend and became concerned when he couldn’t reach Alexander. Upon arriving at their home, Alexander initially claimed the children were asleep before slamming the door on him. When he finally gained entry, he found his sons dead.

In a poignant victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Thomas described the profound and lasting impact of his sons’ murder. He expressed his belief that Alexander intended for him to find their bodies and questioned her lack of remorse or explanation.

Alexander had claimed the drownings were accidental after she left the children unattended in the bath while she smoked cannabis. However, the jury rejected this defense after deliberating for nearly seven hours, finding her guilty of two counts of murder.

Sentencing Alexander, Mr Justice Bennathan stated that he believed she was in a cannabis-induced psychotic state when she killed her sons, even if other factors contributed. He noted the tragic breach of trust and the stark contrast between her previous caring behavior and the horrific crime.

The court heard that Alexander had been a regular user of high-strength cannabis and had discussed her usage with others who knew she was caring for young children.

The judge acknowledged the devastating loss for the boys’ father, stating that Alexander would have to live with the memory of her actions every day.

Evidence presented at the trial detailed Mr. Thomas’s frantic 999 call after discovering his sons’ bodies and Alexander’s subsequent arrest. The prosecution argued that the children’s deaths were caused by smothering or immersion in water, and that Alexander must have intended to cause at least serious harm.

Alexander had admitted to two charges of gross negligence manslaughter, but these pleas were not accepted by the prosecution, leading to the murder trial and her eventual conviction. The tragic case underscores the devastating consequences of drug-induced psychosis and the profound loss suffered by the victims’ family.