07/03/2011

Mother Guilty Of Killing Her Children

An American mother has pled guilty to killing her children in her Edinburgh home.

Theresa Riggi, from California, stabbed her eight-year-old twins Gianluca and Austin and their five year-old sister Cecilia in August 2010.

After the attacks, the 47-year-old caused an explosion in their home and suffered serious injury, after jumping off the second floor balcony.

She pled guilty to culpable homicide with diminished responsibility at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Theresa Riggi's marriage had broken down and a bitter custody battle had broken out between her and her husband, who is originally from Colorado.

The issue of their children's education is believed to be the driving force behind their split.

(BMcN/GK)

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