This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36498326
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Partner admits EastEnders actor Sian Blake murder | Partner admits EastEnders actor Sian Blake murder |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The partner of former EastEnders actress Sian Blake has admitted murdering her and their two children. | The partner of former EastEnders actress Sian Blake has admitted murdering her and their two children. |
Ms Blake, 43, Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, were found at the family home in Erith, London, on 5 January after being reported missing on 16 December. | |
Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, entered guilty pleas before Mr Justice Singh at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison. | Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, entered guilty pleas before Mr Justice Singh at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison. |
Outside court, Ms Blake's sister Ava said the family were "really relieved". | Outside court, Ms Blake's sister Ava said the family were "really relieved". |
Simpson-Kent, a hairdresser, was remanded in custody ahead of a three-day sentencing hearing, starting on 4 October. | Simpson-Kent, a hairdresser, was remanded in custody ahead of a three-day sentencing hearing, starting on 4 October. |
He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in February after being extradited from Ghana. | He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in February after being extradited from Ghana. |
Ms Blake and her sons died from neck and head injuries, a post-mortem examination found. | Ms Blake and her sons died from neck and head injuries, a post-mortem examination found. |
Their bodies were found buried in the garden of the family home by police after Simpson-Kent had left. | |
Days after the bodies were found, he was arrested on a beach in Ghana by local police. | |
The arrest came after locals recognised him from a photo shared on social media and tipped off the authorities | |
Det Ch Insp Graeme Gwyn said: "Arthur Simpson-Kent has never given a reason as to why he killed Sian, Zachary and Amon in the way that he did. | |
"Sian's close-knit family are devastated by the loss of their much loved sister, daughter and cousin. | |
"The deaths of Zachary and Amon have compounded their grief and they have lost two entire generations of their family to a violent and completely senseless act of murder at the hands of Simpson-Kent." | |
Ms Blake played Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997 and had been living with motor neurone disease before she died. | |
The EastEnders actor appeared in the 1998 film Siberia and TV movie May 33rd in 2004 under her stage name Syan Blake, according to her profile on IMDB. | The EastEnders actor appeared in the 1998 film Siberia and TV movie May 33rd in 2004 under her stage name Syan Blake, according to her profile on IMDB. |
The Met has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over its handling of the investigation. | The Met has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over its handling of the investigation. |
A serious case review is also under way. | A serious case review is also under way. |