A person has appeared in courtroom charged with the homicide of a mom, her two youngsters and a pal at a sleepover final 12 months.
Damien Bendall, 31, allegedly raped and murdered 11-year-old Lacey Bennett. He’s additionally accused of killing her 13-year-old brother, John Paul, their mom, Terri Harris, 35, and Lacey’s pal Connie Gent, 11.
The youngsters have been reportedly having a sleepover on the evening of the assault, regarded as on 19 September final 12 months. Connie and Lacey had arrange a candy stall to lift cash for charity simply hours earlier than they have been killed.
The our bodies of the 4 victims have been found at a property in Chandos Crescent in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, after a relative of Bendall referred to as Dorset Police to say he had sustained a self-inflicted stab wound.
Connie Gent, Lacey and John Paul Bennett, and Terri Harris have been all discovered useless at a house in Killamarsh in September final 12 months
( Derbyshire Police)
Derbyshire cops have been met by Bendall after they arrived on the property at 7.39am on 19 September.
On Tuesday, Bendall appeared at Derby Crown Courtroom carrying a gray sweatshirt, blue denims and a white face masks. He was learn the costs which allege that he killed Connie, Lacey, John and Terri on a day between Friday 17 September and Monday 20 September.
Bendall spoke solely to verify his identify. His defence barrister, Vanessa Marshall QC, advised the choose that they have been nonetheless awaiting the outcomes of an MRI scan on Bendall and requested that they look forward to the outcomes earlier than getting into a plea.
Decide Shant expressed her disappointment within the “lack of progress” within the case. She added: “This isn’t an on a regular basis case, we’re very shortly earlier than trial and we nonetheless have no idea what the problems within the case are.
“I’m upset within the lack of progress on this case and in two weeks’ time I count on the indictment to be placed on the subsequent event.”
Because of this the subsequent time Bendall seems in courtroom, on 18 January, he’s anticipated to enter his pleas to the costs.
Bendall is presently in custody at HMP Wakefield and is because of stand trial on 1 March this 12 months.
Connie’s father, Charlie Gent, spoke of his ache after the assault, saying: “Mother and father, spend as a lot time together with your youngsters as you attainable can … You by no means know what’s not far away.”
He added: “My little woman has gone … Fly protected, child woman. I really like you with all my coronary heart and at all times will.”
Jason Bennett, father of John Paul and Lacey, stated in a press release issued via Derbyshire police that his life “won’t ever be the identical once more”.
Lacey Bennett together with her brother John Paul Bennett and their mom Terri Harris
(PA photographs)
He described younger Lacey as his “TikTok queen” and his son John Paul as “completely my mini me”. He added: “Behind his powerful exterior he was probably the most loving son you possibly can want for. His love for his mum was wonderful he simply wished everybody to be blissful.”
Terri Harris’s dad and mom, Angela Smith and Lawrence Harris, described her as “our world, our the whole lot”. They stated she had “made many buddies all through her brief life and remained loyal to all of them” and described her as “a tremendous mum” whose “infants have been her world”.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
