My beautiful girl was taken by the one person who should have kept her safe
Dad’s tribute after killer mum jailed
Bethan was drowned in bath by mother to murdering Bethan, but still entered a plea of not guilty, forcing Mr Colebourn and family members to give evidence. Mr Colebourn said: “Throughout the criminal trial, all those that loved Bethan have had to endure the heartbreak of listening to her last moments.” Colebourn said she murdered Bethan and then tried to kill herself because she believed her husband, who runs a marine interiors firm, was having an affair.
But he said: “I have also had to suffer endless unfounded allegations and lies made against me with no Michael Colebourn opportunity to respond.” Diabetic Colebourn tried to hang herself, stabbed herself in the stomach and took an insulin overdose after killing her daughter. At Winchester crown court, Mrs Justice Cutts, told Colebourn: “Bethan was your daughter and only three at the time of her death. Those who loved her were rightly excited for her future and no sentence can take away their grief and heartache.” Mr Colebourn said: “Bethan’s laugh was infectious and her energy was endless. There is not a second in the day that I am not thinking about her. Bethan was my world and being her daddy made me so proud. I miss her so much.” A DEVASTATED father told how he “desperately misses being a daddy” after his estranged wife was jailed for life for drowning their “beautiful” three-year-old daughter.
Michael Colebourn, 38, was in court yesterday to see Claire Colebourn, 36, sentenced to serve a minimum of 18 years for murdering Bethan on October 19, 2017.
Judge Justice Johannah Cutts QC described the murder as “shocking”.
Colebourn had set a 2am alarm to drown Bethan. The court heard the child told her mother, “I don’t want a bath, Mummy,” moments before she was murdered in the family home in Fordingbridge, Hants.
After the sentencing, Mr Colebourn said: “My beautiful daughter has been taken from me in such a cold and callous manner at the very hands of the one other person that should have protected her and kept her safe.
“There are no words to describe the past 18 months. The one thing in my life that gave me purpose has gone.
“The loss of Bethan had a huge impact on so many people. She was such a special little girl – bringing so much joy.”
In police interviews, Colebourn gave what was described as “full admissions” Claire Colebourn