Davina Michelle & Jasmine Kelly Baker

Happy 18th Jasmine...always in my thoughts x x x









xxx Davina xxx



xxx Jasmine xxx



33 YRS FOR EVIL MOTHER!!!!!!!!

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Davina Michelle Baker 6.10.1990 - 13.6.2007 Aged 16

Jasmine Kelly Baker 10.11.1993 - 13.6.2007 Aged 13

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UPDATED 22.09.2009


Killer mother jailed for 33 years

Davina and Jasmine were killed with a kitchen knife
A mother who murdered her two daughters as they slept has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 33 years.

Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, stabbed 16-year-old Davina 37 times and 13-year-old Jasmine 29 times at their home in Stretham, Cambridgeshire.

Her ex-husband said the killings were "an act of calculated viciousness".

The 33-year minimum sentence handed down at Cambridge Crown Court is one of the longest jail terms given to a woman in the UK in modern times.

David Baker, Kumari-Baker's ex-husband, said he had been "robbed" of his daughters.

'Mystery motive'

Kumari-Baker admitted killing the girls in June 2007 but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

However the jury did not believe her and took just 35 minutes to find her guilty of murder.


Reykha Kumari-Baker showed no emotion in the dock as she was sentenced
Sentencing her, Mr Justice Bean said the Parole Board would not consider her for release until 2040, when she will be 72.

He said she had been found guilty of two brutal murders on the basis of "clear and compelling evidence".

"Most people will find it inexplicable that a mother could kill her own children and you have given no explanation for it," he said.

He said she was "certainly upset" at the breakdown of her relationship with boyfriend Jeff Powell.

He added: "I think mild depression was probably combined with a wish to retaliate against David Baker and destroy the happiness in his life but to some extent your motive remains a mystery.

"Your defence of diminished responsibility was flimsy and unsubstantial. You knew quite well what you were doing and you were not mentally ill."


JAIL TERMS FOR WOMEN

Rekha Kumari-Baker's 33-year minimum sentence - or 'tariff' - is among the longest handed by a UK court to a woman in modern times. Others include:
Rose West: Sentenced in 1995 for killing 10 young women and girls over 20 years - 'whole life' tariff
Beverley Allitt: Nurse who killed four children in 1991 - given minimum 30 years in 1993
Myra Hindley: Moors murderer jailed for life in 1966. Minimum term increased by home secretaries during her time in jail to 'whole life'. Died 2002
The judge considered whether Kumari-Baker should ever be considered for release but concluded that the premeditation was significant but not substantial so a "whole life order" was not warranted.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor John Farmer after Kumari-Baker was convicted, Mr Baker told of the "incalculable" loss he had suffered.

"Having them taken away from me in such a brutal way and by the woman who was their mother... has had an incalculable effect," Mr Baker said in his statement.

"I am haunted by the horror of the events of that night and probably will remain so for a very long time."

His statement continued: "She tore them from us all and life can't be the same for those who remain."

Prosecutors had said Kumari-Baker was trying to "wreak havoc" on her ex-husband.

Asda knives

During the two-week trial, jurors heard that she attacked the girls in the early hours of June 13.

The court heard evidence showed that Davina - whose body was found kneeling on the floor - had struggled. Jasmine was found dead in bed.

The prosecution said Kumari-Baker bought the knives she used to attack the girls at an Asda supermarket two days earlier.

She argued that she had been suffering from a mental disorder and mounted a "diminished responsibility defence".




Updated 21.09.2009


Mother guilty of daughter murders

Kumari-Baker's defence team claimed she had an "abnormality of mind"
A mother who stabbed her daughters to death at her home in Cambridgeshire has been found guilty of their murder.

Rekha Kumari-Baker, 41, admitted the killings but had denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Davina Baker, 16, and Jasmine Baker, 13, were killed with a kitchen knife in a frenzied attack in 2007.

A jury at Cambridge Crown Court took about 30 minutes to reach a verdict of guilty on both counts of murder. She will be sentenced on Tuesday.

The court heard Davina was stabbed 39 times at the house in Stretham, on 13 June 2007. There were defence wounds on the girl's body.

'Something terrible'

Kumari-Baker, a hotel worker, then attacked her younger daughter in similar fashion.

The jury was told that after killing the children she rang a friend to say: "I have done something terrible."

In a hand-written note she left at the murder scene, she wrote: "I don't want them to get hurt as I did."

She concluded the note by writing: "My kids will not be a burden to anyone anymore."


Davina and Jasmine were killed with a kitchen knife
The court heard there was "much contention" between the defendant and her ex-husband over the care and custody of their children.

Jurors were told one theory was that Ms Kumari-Baker wanted to "wreak havoc" on her ex-husband David Baker by killing the girls.

She had also been distressed by a break-up of a relationship with her boyfriend Jeff Powell, the court heard.

Evidence was also heard that Kumari-Baker twice told her older daughter "I wish you were dead", during a meeting with teachers in 2004.

Prosecutor John Farmer said Kumari-Baker had bought the murder weapon at an Asda supermarket in Cambridge on 11 June 2007.

He said she had woken early on 13 June and then gone to the girls' bedrooms and murdered them.

Psychiatrist Lyle Hamilton - who was called to give evidence by Kumari-Baker's lawyers - said medical literature showed that women had killed children because they were "mentally ill" and because they were a "retaliatory type".


Kumari-Baker left a note after murdering her daughters
He said Kumari-Baker displayed a combination of both categories.

But Dr Neil Hunt, a consultant psychiatrist, told jurors he did not think there was evidence of any mental illness, despite Kumari-Baker's "extreme and unusual behaviour".

After the verdicts, Det Insp Jim McCrorie said: "It became clear, as this investigation progressed, that Rekha Kumari-Baker set out to murder her children.

"Only she will know the reasons why she carried out such a vicious and deliberate attack as they lay sleeping in their beds.

"Davina and Jasmine were two innocent young teenagers who were killed by the person they should have been able to trust most in this world.

"In 25 years in the police service I have never before investigated such an upsetting or sickening crime. "




MOTHER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF HER TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS
13.06.07


The two teenage sisters whose bodies were found at the Cambridgeshire home of their mother died from "multiple stab wounds to the chest", police revealed earlier.
A Cambridgeshire Police spokeswoman confirmed a post mortem examination found both girls died from "multiple stab wounds to the chest".
Yesterday the girls' father, David Baker, paid tribute to his two daughters describing them as "irreplaceable".
David Baker added: "I just want them back."
He was speaking for the first time since the bodies of Davina, 16, and Jasmine, 13, were found at their mother's address in Stretham, near Newmarket.
Mr Baker is due to formally identify them today.
Police had been investigated claims that his former wife stabbed her two daughters to death after an argument over their wild behaviour.
She was arrested after the bodies were discovered on Wednesday in their Stretham home.

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This has really touched my heart and felt they deserved a decent site together.

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Davina & Jasmines Uncle George -
Words From The Funeral xx
Davina and Jasmine

Some Words for 27th July 2007

For those who don’t know me, my name is George Baker. I am David’s older, but unfortunately, not wiser, brother. I am Davina and Jasmine’s Scottish uncle and have been asked to share some words with you this afternoon. I know even before I start though, that my words will be inadequate. I know too that Davina and Jasmine will be listening to me somewhere and, as usual, ‘taking the Mickey’ out of my Scottish accent.

Just over six weeks ago, Davina and Jasmine were taken from us in a manner which shocked us all to the core. This is not the place to comment on the manner of their parting, or on subsequent events which have served to delay them being laid to rest. There is another place where such matters will be pursued and resolved.

We all love our children. We watch them grow, we love and cherish them. They carry our hopes for the future. We expect them to outlive us, to carry on when we are gone. That is the natural order of things…To lose them, no, to have them taken from us, at the start of their lives is an affront to this order. They have gone on before us too soon.

Let us remember them as they were

Davina – so full of life and so full of fun. Like all teenagers she pushed at the edges – let’s not forget, that’s their job! Underneath, I could see a thoughtful young woman beginning to show. She could cover it up well though. The last photograph I have of her is when she came to Scotland a few months ago and went to visit her granny. Some guy had parked his invalid scooter outside his door so of course- Davina and her friend Natasha just had to have a shot on it!

Davina was especially close to her granny in whom she confided a lot. She wrote every week and only stopped when the pre addressed, pre stamped envelopes would run out!

Jasmine – her little sister; always quieter and more reflective; at least until the Karaoke machine came out! Jasmine was always very creative – her web page testifies to that. Her Granny was teaching her to sew and knit and also to cook. She had promised to cook a meal for everyone on her next visit to Scotland.

I would like to quote from the Tribute page set up on Bebo, a site which has had many thousands of visitors and contributors. These words are written by Rosie.

Davina was one of those girls who took every thing in their stride. She had good times and bad times but she always knew everything would be okay. She lived life to the full and made the most of every thing. She is looking down now, telling us not to be sad. She said to me once – “Turn your sadness into gladness”.

Jasmine was such a lovely girl, always had a smile on her face and was always so kind. She was always so, so bubbly and funny and always had something good to say.

Davina and Jasmine were best friends and every moment they spent together was treasured. They loved each other very much and I know that if one was without the other they wouldn’t want to live. They left this world together like they always said – Sisters till the End.



I would like to share a poem I came across. It’s called Too Soon

Too Soon

Theirs was a life which had hardly begun
No time to find their place in the sun
No time to do all they could have done
But we loved you enough for a lifetime

Those who live long endure sadness and tears
But you’ll never suffer the sorrowing years
No more anger, betrayal or fears
Just love now, love and peace

(Adapted from Mary Yarnall)


As families, as friends and as a community, we too have been robbed. We feel a great sadness, an emptiness that cannot be filled, and an anger at what has happened. How can we deal with this?

We can remember both girls with love. I read some of Davina’s diary. She was a prolific writer with some raw talent. She wanted to be a social worker one day and her writing demonstrated a good deal of insight for one so young. One theme dominated all her writing and artwork however, and that was her love for her sister. Pictures on her walls were signed “Davina luvs Jazzy” and “Jazzy luvs Davina”. That love will prevail. The girls wanted to be together and I am sure that wherever they are now, they are together; looking after each other and safe from harm.

Let’s honour the girl’s memories with love. Maybe as families and as friends, we can think about loving each other a little bit better in their memory.


And as families, as friends and as a community we shall stand together and support each other. While we seek understanding and justice we will also show courage and compassion. Through this process, we shall begin to find peace.


I thank all of you who have joined us today to say our farewells to Davina and Jasmine.

I would like to thank all members of all our families, some of whom have travelled hundreds, indeed, thousands of miles to be here. I would like to especially thank my mother and father, Ann and Reg, for being here. I would also like to say a special thanks to Richard and Judith who have been towers of strength for us all.

I would like to thank friends and teachers of Davina and Jasmine for coming. Such a turnout is a testimony as to how loved the girls were.

I thank those members of the press who reported compassionately and accurately on these tragic events. Not all did.


I thank all members of Cambridgeshire Police who have been involved in dealing with events. They have worked with thoroughness and compassion. I would especially like to thank Jim Bambridge who leads the team involved; John Beaumont and Andy Mulligan who, as family liaison officers, have carried out a difficult job with professionalism and humanity


Finally –

What has happened has changed us all. Life can never be the same again. Death is not the end though, but another stage in our journey. Our lives will go on and must go on. Live well in memory of Davina and Jasmine.

Weep if you must
Parting is hell
But life goes on
So sing as well

Thank You All


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Cambridge News > News > Ely > Mum's double murder charge


Mum's double murder charge
A MOTHER accused of murdering her two teenage daughters has appeared in court.

Rekha Kumari-Baker is charged with killing Davina, 16, and Jasmine, 13, at her home in Stretham, near Ely, on June 13 last year. She has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Kumari-Baker, 40, appeared at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday. The date of her trial has been set for January 12 next year.

The girls were found dead at their mother's home in The Crofters.

Davina was finishing her GCSEs at Cambridge Regional College, and Jasmine was a pupil at Cottenham Village College.

Their father, David Baker, identified the girls' bodies two days after their deaths.





Published: 26/07/2008





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Cambridge News > News > Home > Mother accused of murder has trial date set


Mother accused of murder has trial date set
A WOMAN accused of murdering her two daughters has had a date set for her trial.

The trial of Rekha Kumari-Baker, 40, will begin on September 7, after a pre-trial hearing at Cambridge Crown Court set the date today.

She denies killing her daughters Davina, 16, and Jasmine, 13, on June 13 2007.

The girls were found dead at their mother's home in The Crofters, Stretham.

Davina was finishing her GCSEs at Cambridge Regional College, and Jasmine was a pupil at Cottenham Village College.



Published: 13/01/2009