A Massachusetts mother accused of killing her two young children broke down in court Thursday morning, sobbing and trembling as a judge ordered her held without bail.
Janette MacAusland, 49, entered not guilty pleas after her arrest on two murder charges. Authorities say she allegedly strangled her son and daughter inside the family’s $1.5 million home in an upscale suburb west of Boston.
Police said Kai MacAusland, 7, and Ella MacAusland, 6, died on April 24 at the Wellesley residence. Investigators allege the killings occurred as MacAusland was involved in a contentious divorce from the children’s father.
MacAusland appeared in Dedham District Court for Thursday’s hearing wearing a red jail jumpsuit, black glasses and handcuffs.
During the proceeding, MacAusland, an acupuncturist, repeatedly nodded, cried and appeared to wince whenever her children were referenced, at times using her arms to wipe tears from her face.
Her lawyer, Joseph Krowski Jr, suggested a $25,000 bail, 24/7 GPS surveillance, home confinement and a probation period.
Krowski Jr added that MacAusland ‘should not be deprived of her liberty while they get their act together – medical examiner’ as the cause of her children’s death remains unclear.
‘We are really in an intermediate state of limbo,’ the lawyer added.
Acupuncturist, Janette MacAusland, was seen sobbing in Dedham District Court during her Thursday morning hearing
MacAusland’s lawyer, Joseph Krowski Jr, suggested a $25,000 bail, 24/7 GPS surveillance, home confinement and a probation period
MacAusland will be held without bail. After a conference held yesterday, the Commonwealth said that they needed two more months. The judge granted an additional time of six weeks to move forward
The defense said that they are ready to determine probable cause but the prosecution stated they are not just yet. Krowski Jr asked for it to be dismissed or for the judge to ‘propose a reasonable bail.’
A conference was held yesterday where the Commonwealth said that they needed two more months. The judge granted an additional time of six weeks to move forward.
MacAusland’s lawyer also asked to waive her presence in court on October 29.
During this time MacAusland will be held without bail.
After the hearing, her lawyer said: ‘This is not Lindsay Clancy 2.0.
‘Jeanette MacAusland is her own woman, but there’s been a discussion, a discourse that’s opened up in this country about whether or not we want to criminalize mental illness.’
A funeral for Kai and Ella MacAusland was held in May, weeks after their mother, Janette MacAusland, allegedly killed them
Many recalled the late brother and sister sharing a special and close bond that was very strong
Krowski Jr further claimed mental health insittutions, legal institutions and criminal justice institutions for ‘failed’ MacAusland.
He also said that he thinks the case could not be decided ‘in this building,’ adding that it should be brought to the Dedham Superior Court.
The killings came as MacAusland was in the middle of a turbulent separation from her husband, Sam MacAusland, 62.
Following the children’s deaths, MacAusland drove to her aunt’s home in Bennington, Vermont, where she was arrested and confessed to taking her children’s lives, saying she wanted the three of them ‘to go to God together,’ according to a police report obtained by The Boston Globe.
This is a developing story.