TORMENTED Sasikala Navaneethan cracked under the strain of post-natal depression and debts before stabbing her kids, it emerged last night.

The 35-year-old, who killed two of her children and left the third fighting for life, ran a grocery store with husband Navarajah.

Struggling ... family shop

But a bypass opened five months ago, destroying their passing trade.

And a newly-married relative had just quit the flat above, leaving the family without the rental income.

Meanwhile Navarajah, 39, worked from 7am to 11pm to make ends meet, leaving him little time to help with the children, a boy of five and girls aged four and six months.

Investigation ... death scene

Then last week Sasikala, who also worked behind the counter, failed her driving test continuing the daily grind of ferrying the kids around by public transport.

Yesterday family friend Jay Ranan said: Everything had been getting on top of her. Things were getting too much.

Tony Silverstein, who runs a nearby shop in Coulsdon, Surrey, said: He was happy and friendly, but she was very abrupt.

Sasikala, known as Sasi, snapped just after 10pm on Friday in their rented home five miles away in Carlshalton.

She stabbed the five and four-year-olds and slashed the throat of her six-month-old daughter.

After her knife frenzy she phoned 999 to confess but spoke only broken English and cops had to trace a Sri Lankan translator, costing vital minutes.

Navarajah came home before police and ambulance crews arrived.

He is said to have flipped at the sight of the *lo**bath and attacked Sasi.

A neighbour said: I saw a child being carried out in a white sheet. It was practically all red completely soaked in *lo**.

The four and five-year-old died later in hospital.

Sad tribute ... neighbour lays flowers outside Carshalton house

Yesterday, as Navarajah was bailed, Sasi was transferred to a secure mental health facility for tests.

Outside the £350,000 detached family home, neighbours left 40 floral tributes alongside two lit red candles.

One note read: Life lay before you both, like fresh untrodden snow, and suddenly life has been snatched from you.