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Father killed his son unlawfully Father unlawfully killed his son
(about 3 hours later)
A father unlawfully killed his eight-year-old son before taking his own life, a Devon coroner ruled today. A father unlawfully killed his son, torched their home and then stabbed himself to death, a coroner has ruled.
The bodies of Zak Varma, his four-year-old sister Chloe, and their father Iain, 34, were found in their burnt out house in North Tawton in June 2007. Zak Varma, seven, his sister Chloe, four, and their father Iain, 34, were found in the house in North Tawton in June 2007.
Earlier the inquest into their deaths heard evidence Zak locked himself in a bathroom in an attempt to escape from his father. An inquest heard Zak survived stabbing and strangulation injuries and was found alive but later died in hospital.
An open verdict was recorded on Chloe, 4, whose remains were badly burned. An open verdict was recorded on Chloe, whose remains were too badly burned for a cause of death to be determined.
Mr Varma is believed to have been experiencing marriage problems at the time of the deaths, the inquest at Barnstaple Coroners Court heard. What happened that terrible night we will never really know, he loved his children Anita Bickell, grandmother
'Heart ripped out' Mr Varma, a chef, is believed to have been experiencing marriage problems at the time of the deaths, Barnstaple Coroners Court heard.
His wife Alison had asked for a divorce and had moved out.His wife Alison had asked for a divorce and had moved out.
His mother, Linda Varma, told the inquest the chef told her he felt his "heart had been ripped out" and that he could not carry on. She and the couple's other son, Lee, two, were not at home at the time of the killings.
Evidence suggests the children were possibly strangled before he set fire to the house and knifed himself. Iain Varma's mother, Linda, told the inquest the chef felt his "heart had been ripped out" when his wife left him and he could not carry on.
Alison Varma's father, David Bickell, told the court that the day before the fire he had stayed with Mr Varma to help with the children. The fire destroyed most of the first floor of the house
He said when he left on 3 June the children were playing and Mr Varma "seemed fine". Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland described the case as a most "tragic, tragic scenario".
Shortly after midnight neighbours noticed the property was alight and the court heard they tried to break the windows to try to save the family. She said: "Iain Varma was in a highly emotionally charged state when he inflicted two sets of knife injuries upon himself.
"He took some time to die and was alive at the deliberate starting of the fire.
"Chloe Varma died in her bedroom before being consumed in a devastating fire which was deliberately started.
"I do not know what killed her."
She said she was satisfied Zak's death had been intended.
"Zak survived a knife attack to his head while standing up, then attempted strangulation only to succumb to the effects of smoke," she added.
"He was found alive, barricaded in the bathroom behind a partially burnt door."
Anita Bickell, the children's maternal grandmother, said: "What happened that terrible night we will never really know, what was going on his head and what made him do what he did. He loved his children.
"We all believed that he was coming to terms with the break-up and that we would be able to find a way forward which would suit everyone."