Samira Lupidi: Mother who murdered daughters jailed for life
A mother who stabbed her two young daughters to death has been jailed for life.
Samira Lupidi, 24, killed 17-month-old Jasmine Weaver and three-year-old Evelyn Lupidi at a refuge in Bradford.
She was jailed for at least 24 years after being found guilty by a jury at Bradford Crown Court.
Lupidi had previously admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied murdering the two girls.
The court heard Lupidi and her girls ended up in the refuge in November after she called police to her home in West Yorkshire.
She told officers her partner Carl Weaver, 31, had slapped her twice the night before, though one of the officers told the jury there were no visible injuries.
Lupidi, an Italian national, killed the two girls the morning after she moved to the refuge.
Prosecutors said she stabbed the girls to death because she feared she may lose them to Mr Weaver.
Peter Moulson QC said that moments after the killings Lupidi told a member of staff: "It's his fault. Now he has a reason to kill me. If I can't have them, he can't have them either.
"He was coming to get me. I had to do this."
'Spasm of violence'
The bodies of Jasmine and Evelyn were found on a bed at the refuge near a bloody kitchen knife.
A post-mortem examination revealed each girl had been stabbed nine times.
Passing sentence Mr Justice Edis said: "I believe you killed these children in a spasm of violence triggered by a weekend of violent arguments.
"You had formed a delusional belief that you were in danger of being killed and that you were going to be abandoned and that you would not see the children again.
"This is a crime that speaks of rage and I sentence you on the basis that you killed them in anger and out of a desire for revenge.
"Even a week later you were telling the prison medical staff that the most important thing was that Carl Weaver was suffering."
'Lives filled with sorrow'
She was found guilty of both murders by a jury of six men and six women after 90 minutes of deliberation.
There were shouts of "yes" from the packed public gallery as the verdicts were read out.
Lupidi sat with her head bowed, in tears, as was comforted by a security guard.
Speaking after the sentencing, the family of Evelyn and Jasmine said: "Our lives are now filled with sorrow and our broken hearts will never heal.
"The girls were typical toddlers always wanting to play, always smiling and happy but never that far from being mischievous.
"They have been robbed of their precious lives and we as a family have been robbed of the opportunity to see those beautiful little girls grow into beautiful young women."