Accused baby killer allowed to see her City friends

A £90,000 a year finance consultant who denies murdering her four-week-old baby had her bail varied so she can see her ‘City’ friends.

Clare Sanders, 42, who worked in London’s financial district is accused of murdering baby Eva with her Ukrainian lover Tomas Vaitkevicius, 44, at their home in Mitcham, Surrey.

Paramedics were called to a flat on Streatham Road after a neighbour heard Sanders screaming: ‘My baby, my baby.’

Baby Eva was alive but had suffered such severe injuries to her head and spine that her life support machine was turned off the following day.

Sanders was living at the flat with Vaitkevicius, who is jointly charged with murder, and causing or allowing the death of Eva Sanders between 1 August and September 3, 2017.

Defence barrister Sally O’Neil, QC, applied to vary Sanders’ curfew and said: ‘She was a person who was working in the City, but she is going to try and get a job.

‘She is very isolated as result of what happened. All her friends work in the City. At the moment it is a social request as much as anything.

‘It is to try and maintain some sanity in her life – some balance in her life.’

Sanders appeared at the Old Bailey wearing a black suit and carrying a Michael Kors Rivington Large Saffiano Leather Tote Bag.

Mrs Justice McGowan, allowed the application and said: ‘Your bail is varied to alter your curfew so that you must be at home between 11pm and 8am.

‘Your case is going to be adjourned now and Ms O’Neil will explain all that has happened to you.

‘You have entered a not guilty plea and the trial will take place next year.’

Sanders is on conditional bail with a curfew which was altered from 9pm-6am to 11pm-8am.

Vaitkevicius, who is being held on remand in HMP High Down, was not present at the hearing.

His lawyer, Bernard Richmond, QC, formerly entered a not guilty plea on his behalf for both counts.

They will stand trial on 17 February 2020.
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