In a tragic and deeply unsettling case, Kara Alexander, a 47-year-old mother from Dagenham, East London, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her two young sons, Elijah Thomas, aged two, and Marley Thomas, aged five. The sentencing, delivered at Kingston Crown Court on April 11, 2025, has drawn widespread attention and sparked conversations about mental health and substance abuse.
The court found that Alexander, under the influence of a potent strain of cannabis known as "skunk," deliberately drowned her sons in the family bathtub in December 2022. Justice Joel Bennathan, presiding over the case, sentenced Alexander to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 252 days. In his remarks, the judge highlighted the devastating impact of the crime on the victims' family and the broader community.
The boys' father, Selvin Thomas, discovered their lifeless bodies tucked into their bunk beds, a scene described as "the stuff of nightmares." The court heard that Alexander had fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after. Post-mortem examinations confirmed drowning as the cause of death.
Justice Bennathan also used the case to issue a stark warning about the dangers of substance abuse, particularly the use of high-strength cannabis. "The heavy use of skunk or other hyper-strong strains of cannabis can plunge people into a mental health crisis in which they may harm themselves or others," he stated.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation, expressed his condolences to the grieving family. "While no sentence can undo the pain of such a loss, we hope this verdict brings some measure of justice and closure to the family and friends of Elijah and Marley," he said.
This case serves as a somber reminder of the far-reaching consequences of substance abuse and the importance of mental health awareness and support. The community mourns the loss of two innocent lives and hopes for healing and justice in the wake of this tragedy.