Jury finds that woman killed her two children and stabbed partner

A jury has ruled that a woman killed her two children and stabbed her partner.

Veronique John, aged 50, of Stoke-on-Trent, was subject to a trial-of-facts after she was previously deemed unfit to plead by the court.

The case was heard at Nottingham Crown Court. Veronique John did not participate in the trial.

On 11 June 2023, we were called to a car wash on Campbell Road, Stoke, when a man was stabbed.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged the same day.

Officers then went to a home on Flax Street, also in Stoke, and found Ethan John, 11, and Elizabeth John, 7. They were both unresponsive with significant injuries.

Sadly, despite the best efforts of police officers and paramedics, both died at the scene.

The trial-of-facts concluded today (Monday 1 July) with John subject to an indefinite hospital order.

The jury concluded that Veronique John carried out the attacks on her two children and her partner.

John was unable to stand trial after the court determined she was unfit to do so, meaning that criminal proceedings were unable to continue.

The difference between a trial-of-facts and a criminal trial is that a jury does not need to decide if the person is guilty or not guilty, nor do they consider the mental state of the person involved. Instead, they are only asked to decide if the person involved committed the acts they have been charged with.

If the subject was deemed to be fit to plead in the future, a trial would then be called.

Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hannan, from our Major Investigations Department, said: “This case was distressing for all involved, it was traumatic for the local community and has left so many people devastated by what happened.

“It’s not lost on me nor any of the officers that were involved in this investigation the lasting effect it will have on the many people that knew Ethan and Elizabeth, and the fond memories they have of them.

“My thoughts remain with their father, family and friends at such a tragic time both here and in other parts of the world.

“I’d also like to thank everyone from the local community who pulled together in such desperate times to help us investigate what happened and to provide as much support as possible for those affected.”