Murder cops quiz boyfriend over killings at sleepover
A MURDER suspect held after four people were killed at a sleepover is believed to be the boyfriend of dead mother Terri Harris.
Damien Bendall is being questioned by police over the deaths of Ms Harris, 35, her two children John Paul Bennett, 13, and 11-year-old Lacey Bennett, and Lacey’s classmate Connie Gent, 11.
The 31-year-old was detained at the scene by Derbyshire Constabulary after the bodies were discovered in a house in Killamarsh, near Sheffield, on Sunday.
Neighbours and friends of Ms Harris said Bendall had been in a relationship with her. Police revealed he was taken to hospital with self-inflicted but minor wounds before being arrested.
Yesterday Jason Bennett released video tributes to his two children, calling John Paul his ‘mini me’ and Lacey ‘the apple of my eye’.
The grieving father, who rushed from a holiday in Devon to the site of the killings, told reporters: ‘I can’t believe I’ll never see them again. I just want to hug them and kiss them.’
In a post on Facebook, the Royal Mail worker called for the death penalty to be brought back.
Charlie Gent, father of Connie, shared footage of his daughter looking happy with him and his partner Julie Potts.
The three children were all pupils at Outwood Academy City in Sheffield, which said they were ‘popular’ with ‘bright futures’, adding the memories of them ‘will live on for ever at the school’.
Hundreds of mourners held a vigil for the victims at a park near the house on Monday evening. A fundraising page set up on GoFundMe for the families of the victims has raised nearly £18,000.