Mum accused of drowning her daughter last year

Claire Colebourn appeared at Winchester Crown Court this morning, following the death of Bethan Colebourn in Fordingbridge last year.

Colebourn spoke only to confirm her name at the short hearing.

Judge Keith Cutler remanded the 36-year old into custody and she will next appear at the same court on July 26.

Judge Cutler said to Colebourn: “I will remand you into custody.

“There is still some work to be done, lawyers are working hard for this case. I will see you again at this court in July.”

It comes after a fresh police investigation revealed the toddler died from drowning.

Officers say the result was revealed during further laboratory tests, after an original postmortem came back “inconclusive”.

It follows an incident at a house in Whitsbury Road, Fordingbridge on October 19.

Emergency services rushed to the property following a report of a ‘concern for welfare’.

Paramedics treated Bethan at the scene, before airlifting her to Salisbury District Hospital, where she later died.

Colebourn was also treated at the scene.

Following the incident, detectives launched an investigation and arrested Colebourn, then 35 and from Fordingbridge, on suspicion of murder.

Colebourn, now of Sandford Road, Littlemore, Oxford, was later released pending further investigation by the police.

Police say she has now been served with a postal requisition by detectives to appear in court.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We are now in a position to confirm the cause of death of a three-year-old girl from Fordingbridge.

"Officers were called to a house in Whitsbury Road on 19 October, 2017.

"Bethan Colebourn was taken to Salisbury District Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

"The cause of death has been confirmed as drowning."

Speaking at the time, a neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he had visited the family’s converted bungalow the previous Christmas for drinks.

The shocked neighbour said: “I cannot believe what has happened."