Yasmeen Ali

A mother who killed her three young children has been given an indefinite hospital order after a court heard she was suffering from acute psychosis — and had been discharged from mental health services just six days before their deaths.

Yasmeen Ali, 44, admitted the manslaughter of seven-year-old Fares Bash, three-year-old Joury Bash and nine-month-old Mohammed Bash on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The children were found dead on a bed at their home in Blaise Walk, Sea Mills, Bristol, on February 18, 2024.

The court heard that the three children had died of knife wounds to their chests and necks. Fares also showed possible signs of asphyxia.

Three young lives were lost. The court heard there had been failings in their mother’s psychiatric care in the days before the killings.

At Bristol Crown Court, Mr Justice Linden said there had been deficiencies in Ali’s assessment, linked to the lack of an acute psychiatric bed.

She had been discharged from mental health services on February 12. Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust has since apologised for failings in her care.

Police discovered the children after Ali made a three-minute emergency call, speaking in Arabic and telling officers she was “going to God”.

Officers arrived to find her severely disturbed and suffering from self-inflicted stab wounds. All three children had suffered fatal stab injuries.

Ali wept as the injuries were described in court. Their father, Alfil Bash, left the courtroom.

Psychiatric evidence indicated that Ali had schizoaffective disorder and that her actions were almost entirely attributable to mental illness.

The judge told her: “You would not have done what you have if you were well.”

Her defence said she had acted under delusions and had not understood that she had killed her children.

The court also heard that Ali, a former nurse in Sudan, had experienced mounting isolation, financial hardship and reported domestic abuse.

Concerns had been raised by the children’s school in September 2023. Police attended the family home three months later, when officers saw Ali visibly shaking and hiding behind them.

The court heard that Joury demonstrated how his father had put his hands around his mother’s throat. Bash was arrested and remanded in custody.

Ali was subsequently left reliant on foodbanks and handouts. The judge said she also faced pressure from community members to withdraw her complaint and feared her husband’s return or losing the family home.

A social worker had described her as a loving, affectionate mother, with no concerns about her care of the children until February 2024.

After considering the psychiatric evidence, the judge imposed an indefinite hospital order. Ali will remain detained in a secure psychiatric facility.

Fares was seven. Joury was three. Mohammed was just nine months old. Their deaths leave devastating questions about the care provided before the tragedy.