Gazing heavenward, the tearful mother accused of murdering her three children

A MOTHER wept as she appeared in court for the first time yesterday charged with murdering her three children. US-born Theresa Riggi, 47, was accused of repeatedly stabbing her twin eight-year-old sons and her daughter at their home in Edinburgh last year.

US-born Theresa Riggi, 47, was accused of repeatedly stabbing her twin eight-year-old sons, Augustino and Gianluca, and her daughter, Cecilia, five, at their home in Edinburgh last year.

The alleged offences happened between 2 and 4 August in a townhouse in Slateford Road, Edinburgh.

Riggi made no plea during a short preliminary hearing at the High Court at Edinburgh.

Donald Findlay, QC, acting on behalf of Riggi, said that discussions with the prosecution were continuing and some matters remained unresolved.

He asked for the case to be continued for a month, without a plea being tendered on Riggi's behalf.

The judge, Lord Kinclaven, agreed and fixed 7 March for the next hearing. He said a full day would be allocated because it was anticipated there would be "matters of substance" at that stage.

Riggi, with long blonde hair and wearing a tailored off-white suit with black trim, had been in tears as she was led into the dock for the brief preliminary hearing.

Clutching a handkerchief, she appeared to compose herself as Mr Findlay addressed the court. At the conclusion of the hearing, she showed signs of a limp as she was led away to be returned to prison.

As well as the murder charges, Riggi is accused of culpable and reckless conduct by causing a gas explosion and a fire, which resulted in her suffering severe injuries.

The judge told Riggi, who had been due to make her first court appearance on 21 January, that she would continue to be remanded in custody.

Riggi and her husband Pasquale, had lived in Skene, Aberdeenshire, where Mr Riggi worked as an oil executive for Shell.

Both were from the United States, but had lived in the UK for 13 years. Their three children were born in England.

Riggi arrived in Edinburgh, along with the three children, on 21 July.

Mr Riggi led mourners at a requiem Mass at Aberdeen's St Mary's Cathedral last August.

He told mourners at the service: "The memories we have of Austin, Luke and Cecilia will forever provide joy and comfort as we go through the weeks, months and years ahead."