Prosecutors to decide mother's trial date over children's deaths

PROSECUTORS will decide tomorrow when to bring Theresa Riggi to court over the alleged murders of her three children.

Police charged her over the deaths of eight-year-old twins Gianluca and Augustino, and Cecilia, five, on Friday after executing an arrest warrant.

The charge would normally mean an appearance in court the next working day, but Riggi, 46, is still recovering at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after suffering serious injuries falling from the second-floor balcony of the townhouse where the children were found.

Police have also spoken to Pasquale Riggi, the children's father, who is separated from Riggi, but he has never been treated as a suspect.

The Crown Office yesterday confirmed a date had not yet been set for Riggi's first appearance, although she might yet be brought to court tomorrow.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that the Procurator Fiscal at Edinburgh has received a report concerning a 46-year-old woman in connection with an incident in Edinburgh on 4 August, 2010. The report is currently under consideration."

The emergency services were called to the house in Slateford Road on Wednesday, at 3pm.

Initially, they were responding to reports of a gas explosion but, although there was a small fire inside the flat, it was not caused by a gas leak.

After discovering the children's bodies, the inquiry quickly turned into a murder investigation.

A post-mortem examination took place on Friday morning after which police were granted a warrant for Riggi's arrest. Four hours later, she was charged with murder.

Pasqaule Riggi, 46, from Colorado, and his wife, from California, had lived in the UK for 13 years and the children were all born in England. She taught the violin and he worked as an executive for Shell in the oil industry.

They married in her home town of Bakersfield in 1989, but the relationship broke down and they separated, with Pasqaule Riggi moving to Aberdeen and his wife staying with the children in nearby Skene. Riggi disappeared with the children on 4 July, sparking a nationwide search and a police appeal, but was found in Edinburgh 17 days later. A police officer visited the family and found them to be safe and well.

Their subsequent deaths shocked friends and family on both sides of the Atlantic.

A family friend in Aberdeen said: "She was a loving mum. She was absolutely doting."

On Friday, Mr Riggi, said: "Our family is struggling to come to terms with the immense and tragic loss of three beautiful children. Thanks to all who have offered such great comfort and support."