Daily Mirror

Murdered woman’s husband & 2 kids found dead at cliffs

Stabbing victim at home 90 miles from her family

- BY TOM PETTIFOR Chief Crime Correspond­ent tom.pettifor@mirror.co.uk

A MAN is feared to have killed his wife before leaping to his death from a seafront cliff with his two sons.

The bodies of the 57-year-old and his boys, aged 10 and seven, were found at Birling Gap in Eastbourne, East Sussex, at around 5pm on Monday.

An hour later, police discovered his wife, in her 40s, dead with stab wounds some 90 miles away at their home in Twickenham, South West London.

Scotland Yard is probing but not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths. Detectives suspect the man murdered his wife before travelling to the cliffs to kill himself and the boys.

Neighbour Alycia Mead, 25, said she saw officers forcing their way into the family’s home. She said: “They were struggling but managed to smash through some of the windows and climbed in through the door and then I heard them say ‘She is on her own’.”

A bus driver, who preferred not to be named, said: “It is a shock. They were very nice people, pleasant.”

A former owner of the home said it was sold in 2014 and is believed to have been rented out to the family.

Forensics officers were seen inspecting the front garden and bins.

A Met spokesman said: “A murder investigat­ion has been launched after a woman was found dead at her home address in Twickenham.

“Sussex Police discovered the bodies of a man and two young boys at Birling Gap, Eastbourne, and later contacted the Met. Whilst formal identifica­tion awaits, police believe they are the deceased woman’s immediate family.

“A vehicle was recovered. No arrests have been made. Inquiries continue.”

 ??  ?? TWICKENHAM Forensics team probes the family home
TWICKENHAM Forensics team probes the family home
 ??  ?? SCENE Police van at house
SCENE Police van at house

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