Mrs Patel is charged with murdering her three children

A mother accused of suffocating her three babies welcomed a police investigation into their deaths, a court has heard.

Trupti Patel, 35, denies murdering Amar, aged three months, Jamie, aged 15 days, and Mia, aged 22 days, either by squeezing their chests or blocking their noses or mouths.

Mrs Patel and her husband were visited at their home in Maidenhead, Berkshire, by two police officers on 8 June 2001 shortly after the sudden death of Mia.

Detective Sergeant Amanda Dansey told Reading Crown Court that when she told the Patels there would be an inquiry into the three deaths, Mrs Patel said she hoped it might "give her an answer".

Looking unwell

The Patels' son Amar died in 1997 while Jamie died in 1999.

"I said that because of the deaths of her three children there was going to be an investigation into those deaths," DS Dansey said.

"Mrs Patel said 'If it gives us an answer'.

"I am assuming she wanted an answer as to why the children had died," she said.

The court heard how Mrs Patel explained to DS Dansey that on 3 June 2001, the mother had been breastfeeding Mia before putting her in her cot, which was fitted with a breathing monitor.

Couple emotional

Mrs Patel then went to sleep herself in the same room.

When Mrs Patel's mother came to wake them for lunch, she found Mia looking unwell.

DS Dansey said how the Patels told her about the trouble they had experienced with the breathing monitor in the past and how Mr Patel was prepared to pay for a new one himself.

The detective could not remember whether Mr Patel demonstrated how the monitor did not alarm even without a baby in the cot.

She also said the pair had become emotional while describing the events surrounding the deaths of their children.

Bout of vomiting

DS Dansey said Mr Patel explained they did not want more children after the death of their first son because "they did not want to have to go through it all again."

Earlier Dr Mark Peters, a consultant paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, who examined Mia, said: "I could see no evidence at all of any natural cause for Mia's collapse and sudden death."

Dr Sarah Spier, the Patel's GP, said she had described Mrs Patel as a "loving" and "sensible" mother who only went to the surgery when she had real concerns.

The GP said she had reassured Mrs Patel at the surgery a few days before Mia's death.

The baby had suffered a bout of vomiting and Dr Spier told Mrs Patel there was nothing seriously wrong and that the child had a normal temperature.

The trial continues.