September 6, 2016 12.42 pm This story is over 90 months old

Boy and girl admit manslaughter of Spalding mum and daughter, but deny murder

A girl and boy accused of killing a Spalding dinner lady and her 13-year-old daughter have admitted manslaughter but denied charges of murder when they appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today. The teens, both 15, will now face a jury trial on the murder charges. The pair each denied the murder of Elizabeth Edwards between…

A girl and boy accused of killing a Spalding dinner lady and her 13-year-old daughter have admitted manslaughter but denied charges of murder when they appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today.

The teens, both 15, will now face a jury trial on the murder charges.

The pair each denied the murder of Elizabeth Edwards between April 4 and 15 this year.

They each also denied murdering Katie Edwards between April 12 and 15.

The two defendants, who were 14 at the time of the killings, were remanded into secure youth accommodation to await their trial which is scheduled to begin at Nottingham Crown Court on October 5.

The defendants were referred to only by their first names during the hearing on Tuesday, September 6 and the judge, Mrs Justice Carr QC, and barristers dispensed with their usual wigs and gowns.

Neither of the defendants can be identified because of a court order.

The bodies of Elizabeth Edwards, 49, known as “Liz” and her youngest daughter Katie, 13, were found at their semi-detached home in Dawson Avenue, Spalding on April 15.

Police arrested the two 14-year-old youths following the discovery and charged them with murder.

Liz, who was a regular church goer, worked as a midday supervisor at a nearby primary school and lived at the house with her two daughters. She also has a third adult daughter.