Mother in court over murder of her three children

Tess de la Mareat Bristol Magistrates' Court
News imageFamily handout/Sudanese South West Network A collage picture of three children. On the left is one wearing a blue waistcoat over a white shirt. The middle child is wearing a yellow sparkly hat and a grey jacket and the third child is very young and is wearing a green and white romper suitFamily handout/Sudanese South West Network
Fares, Joury and Mohammed were found dead at their home in Sea Mills

A mother has been charged with the murder of her three young children at their home.

Yasmeen Ali, 43, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court via video link from a psychiatric unit earlier.

It is the first time Ms Ali has appeared in court since seven-year-old Fares Bash, three-year-old Joury Bash and nine-month-old Mohammed Bash were fatally stabbed at the family home in Blaise Walk, Sea Mills, Bristol, on 18 February 2024.

Ms Ali is being held at a secure psychiatric unit and appeared via video link with a number of support staff.

District Judge Lynn Matthews ordered that she remain in custody ahead of a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Prosecutor Jeremy Oliver asked the date on the charges be amended to state that Ms Ali is alleged to have murdered the children between 16 February and 19 February, rather than on 18 February.

He said it was not known at what point the children died.

Ms Ali spoke only to confirm her name during the brief hearing.

The children's father Alfil Bash was among the people seated in the public gallery.

After the hearing, he cried as he spoke of his devastation at the loss of his children and said he "could not get his head around what had happened".

Following the incident, Avon and Somerset Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over prior contact, but the watchdog said no investigation was required.

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