Sectioned mother "known to local council"

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - The mother of a three-month-old baby and a toddler found stabbed to death at a house in Manchester was known to the local children's services department, the city council said on Thursday.

The 21-year-old mother has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act after being arrested for the boys' murder.

Detectives said the bodies of baby Delayno Mullings-Sewell and his two-year-old brother Romario were found after officers were called to the house in the Cheetham Hill area in the north of the city shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Both children had suffered a single stab wound to their abdomen although police said the exact cause of death was still being investigated.

"This is a tragedy," said Detective Superintendent Shaun Donnellan. "There's two children dead -- it would appear to be ... a fatal attack. There's a mother in custody who has been detained under the Mental Health Act," he told reporters.

Manchester City Council said the family were known to its Children's Services department but were not currently involved with it.

"However, in recent months the family were in receipt of community support services including nursery and childminding provision, whilst the mother was attending higher education classes," said Children's Services Director Pauline Newman.

"I am currently involved with my senior staff team in urgently considering the nature, extent, and appropriateness of Children's Services' involvement with the family."