A father who tried to murder his three children in a suicide pact has walked free from court after a judge deemed him mentally unfit to face prison.
The 42-year-old man, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, drove his car into a tree with his children inside after convincing them they were 'going to see Mummy in the stars.' Miraculously, all three survived the crash.
Judge Sarah Johnston described the incident as a 'tragic case of a man in the grip of severe mental illness,' sentencing him to a hospital order rather than jail time.
Disturbing Details Emerge
Court documents reveal the father had been struggling with depression following a bitter separation from his wife. On the day of the incident, he collected his children from school under false pretences before driving to a secluded area.
'He told the children they were going on an adventure to see their mother who had passed away,' prosecutor Emily Carter told the court. 'In reality, he had planned to end all their lives.'
Children's Miraculous Survival
Despite the vehicle hitting the tree at considerable speed, all three children - aged 5, 7 and 9 - survived with relatively minor injuries. Passersby heard their cries and alerted emergency services.
The eldest child later told police: 'Daddy said we were going to heaven to be with Mummy. I was scared but I didn't know how to stop him.'
Mental Health Focus in Sentencing
Defence barrister Michael Thompson argued his client had suffered a 'complete psychotic break' due to untreated depression and should receive medical treatment rather than punishment.
Judge Johnston agreed, stating: 'This was not the act of a criminal, but of a desperately ill man who believed he was saving his children from pain.' The man will remain in a secure psychiatric facility until doctors deem him no longer a danger.
Child protection charities have expressed concern about the case, calling for better mental health support for separated parents. A spokesperson for the NSPCC said: 'While we understand the court's decision, the priority must be ensuring these children receive the care and support they need to recover from this trauma.'
