Girl of 4 ‘killed by mum’

A WOMAN drowned her four-year-old daughter and set her on fire, believing she had to sacrifice her to God, a court heard.

Carly Ann Harris, 38, killed Amelia Brooke at their home after a mental breakdown which made her think she was saving the world.

Amelia’s brother found her charred remains on a table in the garden, a court was told. The jury heard Harris told police: “The angels told me to do it.”

Psychiatrist Dr Arden Tomison diagnosed Harris with schizophrenia.

At Newport Crown Court, Gwent, Michael Jones, prosecuting, said both his team and the defence agreed “that the defendant was suffering from mental illness”.

He said the jury had to decide if she was not guilty of murder by reason of insanity, or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Harris, from Trealaw, Tonypandy, denies murder and manslaughter.

The case continues.