Mum attacked husband before killing children

Elizabeth and Ethan John were killed at their home in June 2023

A mum who was allowed home by police after attacking her husband went on to kill their two children hours later, a coroner has heard.

Veronique John was handed an indefinite hospital order last year after the fatal attacks on daughter Elizabeth, seven, and son Ethan, 11, at their Stoke-on-Trent home on 11 June 2023.

At an inquest into the deaths this week, coroner Emma Serrano heard evidence from a Staffordshire Police officer who went to the family home before the children died, and details of a review that found the force's service had been "inadequate".

The children's father, Nathan John, had raised concerns his wife would "use the children against him", the inquest was told.

Police were first called to the family home in Flax Street on 9 June after Mrs John had dialled 999, the inquest heard.

When PC Megan Maddox arrived Mr John had left the house, but the two children were upstairs and she deemed the case to be "medium risk".

PC John Harrison, who was involved in the case review, said it had been the family's first interaction with the force, adding: "I believe (the children) overheard verbal arguing; both children were in bed upstairs and didn't see any violence."

'Attacked with wood'

Later that day, Mr John made a 999 call and said he had been hit by his wife and when officers went to his workplace on 10 June, he had a swollen forearm and a lump on his forehead.

He told officers that Mrs John had attacked him with a piece of wood and threatened to stab him in his sleep.

In custody, Mrs John admitted she had slapped him, but denied making threats to kill.

Sgt Steven Marriott, responsible for the custody facility, said Mrs John confirmed she was taking medication for depression.

He said the facility's mental health team had left for the day but a healthcare professional was available to assess Mrs John if it had been considered necessary.

"There was nothing that made me feel she needed to see a healthcare professional at the time," added PC Marriott.

It was suggested the incident be dealt with through a community resolution notice because it was Mrs John's first involvement with police.

Veronique John was handed an indefinite hospital order last year

Mrs John returned home early on 11 June and her husband went to another address. That afternoon Mr John reported he had been stabbed.

PC Harrison said: "Officers initially went to the home address and that's where officers found both of the children. Veronique John contacted police, stating she was at her home and had killed the children."

Paramedics attended but the children died shortly after 14:30 BST.

The coroner heard that if a domestic violence protection notice had been issued instead of the community resolution notice it would have prevented Mrs John returning home for 48 hours.

PC Maddox said: "While I was speaking to Mr John on the Saturday evening I asked if the children were safe at home with mum and he said yes; I believed there was no physical threat to the children.

"I thought the physical risk was focused on Mr John, not the children."

The inquest continues.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.