Judge calls for jailed Riggi to be deported

THERESA Riggi, the mother who brutally stabbed her three children to death in a city townhouse, should be deported after serving her jail sentence, a judge has urged.

The 47-year-old American stabbed her eight-year-old twins, Austin and Luke, and her five-year-old daughter, Cecilia, to death at their Slateford Road home on August 4.

Each youngster had suffered eight stab wounds and had multiple abrasions and bruises.

Riggi had used a different knife to kill each of them, as church music played in the background.

Yesterday, at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Bracadale told Riggi, originally from California, that her actions had led to a "devastating family tragedy" which had left her husband, Pasquale, "utterly bereft".

He sentenced her to 16 years and said she should be deported at the end of her sentence.

Riggi was originally charged with murder but admitted three counts of culpable homicide at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

As Lord Bracadale spoke of the "disturbing degree of violence" inflicted on the three children, Riggi cried out "no, no" towards the bench.

Outside court, Mr Riggi, an engineer with Shell, stood as a statement was read out on his behalf. It said: "They are in my thoughts when I wake and before I go to sleep at night.

"They were such wonderful, energetic, bright and happy children.

"We are so thankful for the opportunity we had to know and love them and the memories that we made together."

He added: "The horrific manner in which my children died will leave an indelible mark on the rest of my life.

"It pains me to the core that I was unable to protect them from the selfish, brutal and murderous act that ended their lives so unfairly."

A court earlier heard that Riggi and her husband, who came to live in the UK 13 years ago, had separated and that she and the children disappeared last July.

Riggi was badly injured after plunging from a balcony in an attempt to kill herself, but her fall was broken by a neighbour.

She also had self-inflicted stab wounds which were still visible on her neck and wrists.

Defence QC Donald Findlay said Riggi is "tortured" every day by what she has done and remains "resentful" that someone saved her life.

The court was told she had suffered a "brief psychotic episode" brought on by the thought of losing her children.