Violent mother was allowed home hours before she murdered her children

A mother killed her two young children just hours after she was allowed to return home by police, an inquest has heard.

Veronique John, 50, carried out the fatal attacks on Elizabeth, seven, and Ethan, 11, at their Stoke home on Flax Street in June 2023.

She had been detained the previous day after her husband, Nathan, called 999 alleging she had assaulted him. Mr John was discovered with a swollen forearm and lump on his forehead.

Police said Veronique John 'seemed quite apologetic' about the assault and so they allowed her to return home in the early hours of Sunday, June 11.

Mr John went to another address, leaving his wife alone with their children. But he rang police again that afternoon to report he had been stabbed.