Mother who drove children into lake admits murder

A woman has pleaded guilty to murdering three of her seven children by driving them into a lake in southern Australia in April 2015.

Appearing in the Supreme Court of Victoria today, Akon Guode, 37, of Melbourne but originally from South Sudan, admitted to killing her 16-month-old son Bol and twins Hanger and Madit, four. She also pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of her daughter Alual, six, who was in the car but survived.

Her plea follows a series of pre-trial hearings in which "sensational claims of witchcraft, drug abuse by a witness and threats to kill were aired", reports The Age.

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A witness reported overhearing Guode say on the day of the tragedy that "she would rather end her life and those of her children than see the children live with [her] husband and his new wife", says the Melbourne-based newspaper.

Shortly after the deaths, the witness told authorities Guode said she drove the car into the lake, but that "the husband's other wife had used witchcraft on her".

The witness reportedly received a series of threats from members of Melbourne's Sudanese community, who were aware of her plan to testify against Guode.

The court also heard a recording of an emergency call made by teacher Alexandra Colson-Ing, who was at the lake. "I saw them deliberately drive in there, well it looked like that anyway," she said during the call. "They are floating, they are floating in the water. [They] can't swim."

Despite attempts by passers-by and emergency service crews, only Guode and Alual were rescued from the water.

Guode has been remanded in custody until her next court appearance on 31 January.