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| Sian Blake death: Arthur Simpson-Kent given life sentence | Sian Blake death: Arthur Simpson-Kent given life sentence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The partner of former EastEnders actress Sian Blake has been given a whole life tariff for killing her and their two children. | |
| Arthur Simpson-Kent, 49, stabbed Ms Blake to death along with their sons Zachary, eight, and Anon, four. | Arthur Simpson-Kent, 49, stabbed Ms Blake to death along with their sons Zachary, eight, and Anon, four. |
| The Old Bailey heard he killed them when he learnt Ms Blake was planning to leave him and take their sons away. | The Old Bailey heard he killed them when he learnt Ms Blake was planning to leave him and take their sons away. |
| Ms Blake had motor neurone disease and would not have been able to defend herself, the court heard. | Ms Blake had motor neurone disease and would not have been able to defend herself, the court heard. |
| All three were hit on the head before they were stabbed in the neck or throat with a small axe by Simpson-Kent, who then buried their bodies in the garden last December. | All three were hit on the head before they were stabbed in the neck or throat with a small axe by Simpson-Kent, who then buried their bodies in the garden last December. |
| He painted over the blood stains in their bungalow in Erith, south-east London, before fleeing to his native Ghana in January. | He painted over the blood stains in their bungalow in Erith, south-east London, before fleeing to his native Ghana in January. |
| Simpson-Kent was arrested at Heathrow Airport in February after being extradited. He admitted to murdering his family in June. | |
| Mr Justice Singh said there was "no doubt" that Simpson-Kent should serve the rest of his life in prison. | Mr Justice Singh said there was "no doubt" that Simpson-Kent should serve the rest of his life in prison. |
| "In my judgment this was indeed a case where each murder involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning," he said. | "In my judgment this was indeed a case where each murder involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning," he said. |
| "At the very least that must be true of the murder of each of the two little boys individually, and in turn after the defendant had already killed Sian Blake." | "At the very least that must be true of the murder of each of the two little boys individually, and in turn after the defendant had already killed Sian Blake." |
| 'Monster' | |
| He added there were serious aggravating features as the victims were vulnerable because of age or disability. | He added there were serious aggravating features as the victims were vulnerable because of age or disability. |
| Ms Blake's mother Lindell Blake said in an impact statement: "We live knowing that Sian and the children would have been scared, terrified before that monster slaughtered them in their home, a place they should have felt safe and secure. | |
| "Sian was unable to protect her precious children. Little Zachary fighting back trying to protect his mother, himself or his little brother from his own father. | |
| "Our nights are now sleepless despite our constant tiredness and extreme sadness which never leaves us." | |
| The court heard Simpson-Kent told psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph "something just snapped in me". | The court heard Simpson-Kent told psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph "something just snapped in me". |
| He said previously: "I felt as if I had just been pushed off a diving board and was falling." | He said previously: "I felt as if I had just been pushed off a diving board and was falling." |
| Simpson-Kent said he grabbed a small axe that was in the kitchen before hitting her repeatedly on the head. | Simpson-Kent said he grabbed a small axe that was in the kitchen before hitting her repeatedly on the head. |
| "My mind was blank and I was focusing on doing and not thinking. It was like I was there but not there," he said. | "My mind was blank and I was focusing on doing and not thinking. It was like I was there but not there," he said. |
| The judge refused Simpson-Kent's claim that he was depressed and had planned on killing himself. | The judge refused Simpson-Kent's claim that he was depressed and had planned on killing himself. |
| Ms Blake played Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997. She went on to work as a voice-over artist and sign language interpreter. | Ms Blake played Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997. She went on to work as a voice-over artist and sign language interpreter. |