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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Father unlawfully killed his son | Father unlawfully killed his son |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A father unlawfully killed his son, set fire to their home and then stabbed himself to death, a coroner has ruled. | |
| Zak Varma, seven, his sister Chloe, four, and their father Iain, 34, were found in the 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. |
| An inquest heard Zak survived stabbing and strangulation injuries and was found alive but later died in hospital. | 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, whose remains were too badly burned for a cause of death to be determined. | An open verdict was recorded on Chloe, whose remains were too badly burned for a cause of death to be determined. |
| What happened that terrible night we will never really know, he loved his children Anita Bickell, grandmother | What happened that terrible night we will never really know, he loved his children Anita Bickell, grandmother |
| Mr Varma, a chef, is believed to have been experiencing marriage problems at the time of the deaths, Barnstaple Coroners Court heard. | 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. |
| She and the couple's other son, Lee, two, were not at home at the time of the killings. | She and the couple's other son, Lee, two, were not at home at the time of the killings. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The fire destroyed most of the first floor of the house | The fire destroyed most of the first floor of the house |
| Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland described the case as a most "tragic, tragic scenario". | Devon coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland described the case as a most "tragic, tragic scenario". |
| She said: "Iain Varma was in a highly emotionally charged state when he inflicted two sets of knife injuries upon himself. | 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. | "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. | "Chloe Varma died in her bedroom before being consumed in a devastating fire which was deliberately started. |
| "I do not know what killed her." | "I do not know what killed her." |
| She said she was satisfied Zak's death had been intended. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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." | "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." |