BBC News
Dabb, Kory R.A judge has rejected a US mother's extradition challenge over allegations she killed two of her children in Colorado and “fled” to London.
Kimberly Singler's nine-year-old daughter Eliana and seven-year-old son Aden were found dead on December 19, 2023. in Colorado Springs.
Prosecutors acting on behalf of US officials said Ms Singler, 36, “fled the US and was arrested in West London 11 days later.
District Judge John Zani told Westminster Magistrates' Court he dismissed Ms Singler's challenge to extradition and said the case had now gone to the Home Secretary to decide whether the 36-year-old should be sent back to the US.
Warning: This report contains depictions of child abuse
Ms. Singler's legal team said it intended to appeal the judge's decision.
Before that The court heard in September That Ms. Singler's alleged crimes were “committed against the backdrop of aggressive legal proceedings” over the custody of her children with ex-husband Kevin Wentz.
Prosecutor Joel Smith said that on December 19, 2023. Colorado Springs Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a burglary at a Colorado residence at 00:29 local time (06:29 GMT).
When officers arrived at the defendant's address, they found two dead children and a “blood-stained gun” that was found on the bedroom floor.
Mr Smith said DNA tests were carried out on the gun and knife which revealed mixed profiles matching the children and Ms Singler.
A third child, who has not been named, was found with a serious neck injury. She was taken to hospital and survived.
Mr. Smith said Ms. Singler blamed her husband for the attack, but he was found to be driving a “GPS-tracked truck” in Denver, giving what the prosecutor described as a “complete and verifiable alibi.”
In the following days, the third child was moved into foster care and on Christmas Day she told her foster carer that Ms Singler was responsible for the attack and asked her to lie to the police, Mr Smith said.
The prosecutor said the girl was interviewed by police on December 26, during which she told how the attack unfolded after the defendant targeted all three children in their bedroom.
The police investigation then led to the issuance of a warrant by the Fourth Judicial District Court in El Paso County, Colorado, for Ms. Singler's arrest.
Mr Smith said Ms Singler was arrested in the Chelsea area of West London on December 30.
The court in London is not to conduct a criminal trial. However, at the same hearing in September, Ms Singler's lawyer Edward Fitzgerald told the court she “denies that she is responsible for the deaths of her two young children and the attempted murder of her third child”.
“She's innocent,” he said.