Samantha Ford sentencing to be reviewed by Attorney General over death of twins Chloe and Jake Ford at Margate home
14:08, 27 August 2019
updated: 14:16, 27 August 2019
A killer mum's jail sentence for drowning her toddler twins is set to be reviewed after her husband branded the ruling "disgusting".
Samantha Ford was jailed for 10 years earlier this month after killing 23-month-old tots Chloe and Jake Ford at their home in Margate on Boxing Day last year.
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has confirmed it is now looking at the sentence after a number of complaints were submitted to government lawyers.
They will be reviewing the case to see if the sentence should be considered by the Court of Appeal for breaching sentencing guidelines.
A hearing at the Old Bailey heard Ford was a "controlling mother" who killed the children in a bid to get back at her ex-husband after becoming obsessed with losing her "perfect life" in Qatar.
She drowned the twins in the bath after failing to convince their children's father, Steven, to get back together and return to the Middle East after splitting following their return to the UK earlier in 2018.
Ford, 38, denied murder but admitted a charge of manslaughter by diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey.
But the twins' heartbroken father said the sentence was too lenient and that justice had not been served.
Mr Ford has called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to push through tougher sentencing powers saying his ex-wife's actions were the "ultimate punishment" adding he was "disgusted, devastated and appalled" by the sentence.
Ford showed little emotion during her sentencing hearing on August 16 when judge Andrew Edis QC ordered her to go to prison for 10 years. She will spend time in a mental health ward until she is well enough to be put behind bars, the judge ruled.
Mr Justice Edis told Ford: "You knew it would devastate him [Steven] and I'm sure that's one reason why you did it.
"This was very controlled behaviour and not impulsive or frenzied. You had been considering doing this for some time as your Google searches demonstrated."
Three psychiatrists gave evidence during the sentencing hearing in London to outline Ford's mental health.
Consultant psychiatrist Philip Joseph told the court he believed her "abnormality of mental functioning was a significant contributory factor" to her killing the twins - who were conceived by IVF.
Dr Muzaffar Hussain, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said he found Ford was "most regretful" about losing "a perfect life" in Qatar, her miracle children and the perfect life.
Defence witness Professor Gillian Mezey said Ford had developed a severe "depressive illness" and the impulse to kill the children had occurred "very shortly before" carrying out the act.
A spokesman for the AGO said: "We have received a number of referrals regarding the sentencing of Samantha Ford which lawyers are currently reviewing."
It is understood a decision could be made within a week.
Mr Ford wrote on Twitter on Friday thanking people for messages of support since the sentencing and has previously talked about his "indescribable pain" after losing his children.
He said: "I've read every message. It seems that I'm not the only one displeased with the sentencing as several appeals were lodged last week with the Attorney General."
