Headline

Cannabis-smoking Mother Bags Life Jail For Drowning Two Sons

Published

2 months ago

April 13, 2025

A cannabis-smoking mother who drowned her two young sons, aged two and five, and tucked them into bed for their father to find has been sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday and will serve a minimum of 21 years, Daily Mail reports.

The 47-year-old mother, Kara Alexander, of Dagenham, East London in the United Kingdom, was found guilty of murdering Elijah Thomas, two, and Marley Thomas, five, in the bath at their home in December 2022.

At Kingston Crown Court on Friday, Justice Bennathan reportedly sentenced Alexander to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 252 days.

He also warned that Alexander’s reliance on super-strength cannabis, known as skunk, should serve as a warning that it can ‘plunge people into a mental health crisis in which they may harm themselves or others’.

The boys’ father Selvin Thomas was reported to have found found his sons lying dead on their bunk beds after they were killed by their mother. They had been tucked in but he immediately knew they were dead, describing them as cold and hard to the touch.

Thomas, who had split up with Alexander just three months earlier, reportedly began screaming, “Kara, Kara, Kara. You’ve killed my children.” But she had already fled the house and he called the police.

He was due to have the boys that weekend and was worried because he had not received any messages or calls from Alexander. When he arrived at their home his ex-partner said they were upstairs sleeping before slamming the door in his face.

But after he demanded entry, he reportedly ran to his sons’ bedroom to find they had been murdered, and their bodies lying side-by-side on their lower bunk bed. By the time the horrified father ran downstairs Alexander had fled.

She was arrested about an hour later and later claimed she had left the boys in the bath alone while she smoked cannabis.

“They had the duvet up to their shoulders, only their faces were visible. He touched Marley’s face, on his right cheek, and he was freezing cold and hard. He knew immediately that they were dead and thought they had been dead for some time,” prosecutor Philip Evans reportedly told the court.

The cause of death was drowning or suffocation.

On Friday at Kingston Crown Court, Evans read out the victim impact statement of Thomas, who could not be present due to illness saying.

“The events of December 2022, have obviously had a profound impact on me and my family,” he said in Selvin Thomas’ words.

“Kara ensured there would be maximum impact on me by engineering a situation where I would find Marley and Elijah deceased in bed. I am coming to terms with the fact I dedicated seven years of my life to a cold-hearted, selfish and extremely stupid demon.

“I believe Kara’s intention was to frame me for the murders and somehow present herself as a victim. She was able to brutally end the lives of two innocent children, put them in the bed and wait calmly for me.

“She has shown no remorse or provided any kind of explanation or apology, she did not consider the impact this would have. Despite the correct verdict being handed down, there still remain many unanswered questions. It is a pain that follows me all day, every day and will do for the rest of my life,” he read.

On her part, Alexander had reportedly claimed it was “an accident” when she left the boys in the bath as she smoked cannabis.

The report stated that after deliberating for six hours and 54 minutes, the jury at Kingston Crown Court found Alexander guilty of two counts of murder.

Jailing her on Friday morning, Justice Bennathan reportedly told Alexander, “The heavy use of skunk or other hyper strong strains of cannabis can plunge people into a mental health crisis in which they may harm themselves or others. If any drug user does not know that, it is about time they did.

“On the evening of December 15, 2022, you had been smoking skunk, you had been doing so for weeks before, probably longer. You drowned them both, I cannot reach any conclusion other than by your state at that time you intended to kill them.

“The bath was probably still run from the evening routine and I do not think your dreadful acts were pre-meditated. The next morning their father, worried by your unusual signs, came and found them – the stuff of nightmares.

“I find you were in a psychotic state when you killed your two sons. On the proper medical definition, I accept that it was cannabis induced, even if there were other contributing causes.

“That finding of psychosis is consistent with the jury’s rejection to your defence of diminished responsibility. You had a previous psychotic episode in 2016.

“I also note that in December 2022, you spoke regularly to two members of your social circle about your heavy cannabis use, they both knew you were looking after small children, yet neither of them warned you of any risks.”

The judge added that her “shocking abuse of trust that any small child ought to be able to have in their mother or father” was a significant aggravating factor.

“You not only lack any previous convictions but before that terrible evening you had been a caring mother, that stands as a stark contrast of what normally happens when a child is killed. You may not have been told that your previous psychotic state could be triggered by cannabis.

“Every day you will remember and grieve the little boys whose lives you snatched away,” he was quoted as saying.

Marley and Elijah, also known as Teddy, had previously lived with Alexander and Thomas in Hackney before they split up and she moved to Dagenham with the boys.

Headline

Iran-Israel War: ‘A Fire No One Can Control’, UN Warns

Published

4 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Editor

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the ongoing violent conflict between Iran and Israel is “a fire no one can control” and risks spiralling out of control.

Guterres also warned that the world stood on the edge of catastrophe as Israel’s military campaign inside Iran intensified and strikes on nuclear facilities threatened to trigger a catastrophe.

The regional fallout is expanding, with missiles from Yemen’s Houthi forces targeting Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, while armed groups in Iraq are reportedly mobilising.

In an address to the UN Security Council on Friday, Guterres made an urgent plea for de-escalation, calling the spiralling confrontation a defining moment for the future of global security.

“We are not drifting toward crisis, we are racing toward it,” he said adding,“This is a moment that could shape the fate of nations”.

“The expansion of this conflict could ignite a fire no one can control,” he stressed, warning of widespread panic and destruction.

The Secretary-General’s remarks came amid a mounting civilian toll in both Israel and Iran, and as several nuclear sites in Iran have come under direct military assault.

Over 100 targets have reportedly been struck across Iran, including military and nuclear infrastructure such as the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities and the Khondab heavy water reactor.

Iranian officials reported over 224 civilian deaths, with some estimates twice as high and more than 2,500 have been reportedly injured.

Major cities like Tehran have seen mass displacements, fuel shortages and widespread panic.

Iran has responded with its own barrage of missile strikes on Israel, hitting cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba.

Critical civilian sites, including the Soroka Medical Center and the Weizmann research institute, have been damaged.

No fewer than 24 Israelis were confirmed dead, with more than 900 injured.

Guterres urged both parties to give diplomacy a chance.

He reiterated the need for full Iranian cooperation with the UN nuclear energy watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency

Headline

US Visa Adjudication Sparks Concerns Over Diplomatic Relations

Published

4 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Editor

The US Department of State has responded to questions regarding a proposed expansion of the travel ban to 36 countries, including 25 in Africa, following intense global debates and concerns, with many questioning its potential impact on diplomatic relations, travels, and economies.

According to the spokesperson for the Department of State, Ms Bruce, the proposal aims to protect US national security and public safety by ensuring that foreign travelers do not pose a threat to the country, saying ,

As laid out in Trump’s Executive Order 14161, ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and other National Security and Public Safety Threats’, the visa adjudication process has got to ensure that US-bound foreign travellers do not pose a threat to the national security and public safety of the United States.

She said that the Department of State assesses countries’ security capabilities, information sharing, and identity management practices to determine whether they can be trusted to provide reliable information for visa adjudication.

Countries that fail to meet certain security standards may face travel restrictions or entry bans. The goal is to ensure that US-bound foreign travelers do not pose a threat to national security and public safety, Bruce explained.

When asked about a deadline for countries to come up with an action plan, the spokesperson clarified that there is no immediate deadline, stating that countries will have a considerable amount of time to rectify any issues affecting the nature of the US trust in how they issue visas.

However, the proposed travel ban has sparked concerns about its potential impact on diplomatic relations and travels between the US and affected countries.

The African Union has expressed opposition to the ban, emphasising the need for balanced and evidence-based decision-making.

GLOBAL REACTIONS
Caribbean Leaders

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica expressed frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding the ban, emphasizing that his government is prepared to address any concerns raised by US officials.

Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and other Caribbean nations have issued diplomatic notes to the US State Department, requesting official confirmation about their status on the list and clarification on how the policy will be enforced.

AFRICAN NATIONS

Some countries, like Chad, have already retaliated against previous travel bans by suspending visas for US citizens.

Regional leaders are concerned about the potential economic and diplomatic fallout, particularly for tourism-dependent economies.

US IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES

Critics argue that the ban disproportionately targets African and Caribbean nations, labeling it xenophobic and discriminatory. They warn that the expanded scope could face court challenges, particularly from those with existing US ties.

ECONOMIC CONCERNS
Tourism Impact

The Caribbean is one of the most tourism-dependent regions in the world, and any major restriction will have devastating economic consequences, according to a regional economist based in Bridgetown, Barbados.

CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS

The US has raised concerns about the security risks associated with these programs, which allow foreign nationals to acquire second citizenships in exchange for financial investments. Antigua and Barbuda’s government has defended its screening process, stating that all applications are rigorously vetted by recognized international agencies.

DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT
Strained Relations

The proposed ban has also raised concerns about strained diplomatic ties, especially for countries reliant on American tourism or investment

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

Caribbean officials are mobilising for diplomatic action, with the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) convening high-level talks with US officials to press for more transparency on the proposed travel ban.
(VANGUARD)

Headline

Trouble Looms As Trump Gives Iran Two Weeks To Avoid US Airstrikes

Published

14 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Editor

President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran had a “maximum” of two weeks to avoid possible US air strikes, indicating he could make a decision before the fortnight deadline he set a day earlier.

Trump added that he was not inclined to stop Israel attacking Iran because it was “winning,” and was dismissive of European efforts to mediate an end to the conflict.

“I’m giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum,” Trump told reporters when asked if he could decide to strike Iran before that.

He added that the aim was to “see whether or not people come to their senses.”

Trump had said in a statement on Thursday that he would “make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks” because there was a “substantial chance of negotiations” with Iran.

Those comments had been widely seen as opening a two-week window for negotiations to end the war between Israel and Iran, with the European powers rushing to talks with Tehran.

But his latest remarks indicated Trump could still make his decision before that if he feels that there has been no progress towards dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump meanwhile dismissed talks that European powers Britain, France, Germany and the EU had with Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva on Friday.

Europe ‘didn’t help’

“They didn’t help,” he said as he arrived in Morristown, New Jersey, ahead of a fundraising dinner at his nearby golf club.

“Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after the talks in Geneva that Tehran would not resume negotiations with the United States until Israel stopped its attacks.

But Trump was reluctant.

“It’s very hard to make that request right now,” Trump said.

“If somebody’s winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody’s losing, but we’re ready, willing and able, and we’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens.”

Trump meanwhile doubled down on his claims that Iran is weeks away from being able to produce a nuclear bomb, despite divisions in his own administration about the intelligence behind his assessment.

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence, said in a report in March that Iran was not close to having enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon.

“She’s wrong,” Trump said of Gabbard, a longtime opponent of US foreign intervention whom Trump tapped to coordinate the sprawling US spy community.

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

AFP