US mother accused of killing two of her children challenges extradition to London

LONDON — An American mother’s extradition fight to avoid trial for the murder of her children suffered a setback Friday, as new evidence appeared to undermine her argument that being sent home from the United Kingdom would violate her rights.

Kimberlee Singler’s lawyer argued that returning her to the United States would violate European human rights law, in part because she faces life in prison without parole in Colorado if convicted of first-degree murder. Such a sentence would be inhumane because it offers no prospect of release, even if she is rehabilitated.

Singler, 36, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for shooting and stabbing her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, and one count of attempted murder for stabbing her 11-year-old daughter with a knife. She also faces three counts of child abuse and one count of assault.

Defense attorney Edward Fitzgerald said that even if a Colorado governor had the option to commute his sentence at some point, it would constitute “political suicide” and experts said that was not done.

But as Fitzgerald wrapped up his argument on the final day of the three-day hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Joel Smith stood up to say he had evidence that former Gov. John Hickenlooper commuted the first-degree murder sentences of six men in 2018.

Judge John Zani adjourned the hearing “in light of potentially material information” until Dec. 2 to allow attorneys to confirm a news report about the commutations and provide additional arguments.

Singler, who had superficial stab wounds when she was found in her Colorado Springs apartment with her children on Dec. 19, was initially thought to be the victim of what was reported as a burglary, police said. She tried to pin the attack on her ex-husband, with whom she was battling over custody of her children.

But her husband had a solid alibi, prosecutors said. He was driving a truck equipped with a GPS tracking system at the time.

The girl who survived her attack initially told police that a man who entered their home through the patio attacked them.

But after recovering from her injuries and being transferred to a foster home, she told a guard that her mother was the culprit.

The girl said her mother gave the children milk with a powdery substance to drink and told them to close their eyes as she led them into her brother’s room, Smith said.

Singler cut her neck and, as the girl begged her to stop, she hit her again. The girl said her mother had a gun.

“The defendant told him that God was telling him to do it and that the children’s father would take them,” Smith said.

Police found Aden Wentz, 7, and Elianna “Ellie” Wentz, 9, dead in the apartment. Smith said both men had gunshot and stab wounds.

A pistol, a knife and empty bottles of sleeping pills were found in the house.

Singler denies attacking his children, said Fitzgerald, who represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long fight to be extradited to the United States, where he will face espionage charges.

Singler is concerned that her daughter’s statement against her was obtained under duress and that the crimes were not thoroughly investigated, Fitzgerald said.

After her daughter changed her story, police attempted to arrest Singler on December 26, but she fled. She was arrested in London’s upscale Chelsea neighborhood four days later.

Singler, who is in custody, was in the dock wearing a turquoise jacket and white top. She spoke publicly only to acknowledge that she understood why the hearing was postponed.