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| Sian Blake's partner admits killing her and two children, court told Sian Blake's partner admits killing her and two children, court told | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The partner of the former EastEnders actor Sian Blake has admitted killing her and their two sons, who were found buried in the garden of their London home. | The partner of the former EastEnders actor Sian Blake has admitted killing her and their two sons, who were found buried in the garden of their London home. |
| Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Belmarsh prison on Friday morning, having been arrested in Ghana in January and extradited to the UK. | Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Belmarsh prison on Friday morning, having been arrested in Ghana in January and extradited to the UK. |
| He did not enter a plea to the charges of murder, but his lawyer confirmed he had admitted killing Blake, 43, Zachary, eight, and Amon, four. | He did not enter a plea to the charges of murder, but his lawyer confirmed he had admitted killing Blake, 43, Zachary, eight, and Amon, four. |
| James Sturman, defending, told the judge, Mr Justice Singh: “He admits the killings. There is no objection to that being reported. Any jury will be told that.” | James Sturman, defending, told the judge, Mr Justice Singh: “He admits the killings. There is no objection to that being reported. Any jury will be told that.” |
| The case was adjourned for reports and another hearing was set for 29 July. | The case was adjourned for reports and another hearing was set for 29 July. |
| The bodies of Blake and their sons were found buried in the back garden of her home in Erith, south-east London, in January. They had not been seen for more than three weeks and all died as a result of head and neck injuries, police said. | The bodies of Blake and their sons were found buried in the back garden of her home in Erith, south-east London, in January. They had not been seen for more than three weeks and all died as a result of head and neck injuries, police said. |
| Simpson-Kent disappeared days after being questioned by the police about their disappearance. The former film and TV hairdresser was arrested in Ghana days after the bodies were found. | Simpson-Kent disappeared days after being questioned by the police about their disappearance. The former film and TV hairdresser was arrested in Ghana days after the bodies were found. |
| Several villagers in the coastal resort of Busua had tipped off detectives about his presence. The BBC reported that he had been cutting a coconut when he was surrounded by armed police. | Several villagers in the coastal resort of Busua had tipped off detectives about his presence. The BBC reported that he had been cutting a coconut when he was surrounded by armed police. |
| Neighbours said at the time of Blake’s disappearance that they had noticed a change in her recently. “I used to see her walking up and down and we would greet each other,” one neighbour said. “She was a happy woman. I used to see her and her kids playing in the garden. I never saw the man.” | Neighbours said at the time of Blake’s disappearance that they had noticed a change in her recently. “I used to see her walking up and down and we would greet each other,” one neighbour said. “She was a happy woman. I used to see her and her kids playing in the garden. I never saw the man.” |
| Blake, who played Frankie Pierre in the BBC soap in the 1990s, had had health problems at the time of her disappearance and was described as having “a serious life-threatening condition”. | Blake, who played Frankie Pierre in the BBC soap in the 1990s, had had health problems at the time of her disappearance and was described as having “a serious life-threatening condition”. |
| Officers spoke to Simpson-Kent at the family home on 16 December. He told them his wife and children were missing, before disappearing himself. A missing persons inquiry was launched two days later, but it was not classed as a high-risk case. Police returned to the couple’s property that day and broke into the house, as there was no answer at the door, but did not discover the bodies. | Officers spoke to Simpson-Kent at the family home on 16 December. He told them his wife and children were missing, before disappearing himself. A missing persons inquiry was launched two days later, but it was not classed as a high-risk case. Police returned to the couple’s property that day and broke into the house, as there was no answer at the door, but did not discover the bodies. |
| Scotland Yard would not elaborate on how many more times police searched the house, but it was only after Christmas that Bexley police classified Blake and her children as high-risk missing persons. Officers found Blake’s silver Renault Scenic on 3 January in Bethnal Green, east London, 15 miles from the family home. | Scotland Yard would not elaborate on how many more times police searched the house, but it was only after Christmas that Bexley police classified Blake and her children as high-risk missing persons. Officers found Blake’s silver Renault Scenic on 3 January in Bethnal Green, east London, 15 miles from the family home. |
| The following day, three weeks after Blake and her children’s disappearance, murder squad detectives took over the case and the police revealed they did not know the whereabouts of Simpson-Kent. The Met’s professional standards body began a review of the case and of police interaction with the family. It later emerged that Simpson-Kent had travelled to Ghana three days after speaking to police. | The following day, three weeks after Blake and her children’s disappearance, murder squad detectives took over the case and the police revealed they did not know the whereabouts of Simpson-Kent. The Met’s professional standards body began a review of the case and of police interaction with the family. It later emerged that Simpson-Kent had travelled to Ghana three days after speaking to police. |
| After widespread criticism, an Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry was opened into Scotland Yard’s handling of the case. | After widespread criticism, an Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiry was opened into Scotland Yard’s handling of the case. |
| Blake left EastEnders in 1997 after 56 episodes, citing a hostile reaction from fans to her unpopular character, a soul singer who was a serial seducer of married men. Her IMDB profile lists later roles in Doctors, Skins and The Bill. She later retired from acting and became a sign-language teacher and interpreter. | Blake left EastEnders in 1997 after 56 episodes, citing a hostile reaction from fans to her unpopular character, a soul singer who was a serial seducer of married men. Her IMDB profile lists later roles in Doctors, Skins and The Bill. She later retired from acting and became a sign-language teacher and interpreter. |