Man accused of killing mum of 2 with hammer
Software worker also charged over death of toddler
A MAN appeared in court yesterday, accused of murdering a mother and her daughter.
Andrew Innes, 50, is alleged to have bludgeoned 25-year-old mother-of-two Bennylyn Burke to death with a hammer.
The software engineer is also alleged to have murdered her two-year-old daughter Jellica Burke by unknown means within his home in Dundee during a 17day window.
Innes faced a petition alleging two charges of murder when he appeared briefly in private at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday. App designer Innes is alleged to have carried out both murders at his home in Troon Avenue between February 17 and March 5.
The first charge alleges he attacked Bennylyn Burke by repeatedly striking her on the head with a hammer, or similar implement, and murdered her.
The second alleges that he assaulted her toddler daughter ‘by means presently unknown to the prosecutor’ and murdered her.
Innes, who was arrested at the weekend, appeared from custody and made no plea before Sheriff John Rafferty.
The case was continued for further examination and Innes was remanded in custody.
Meanwhile, a forensics team searched the detached home, where a scene of crime tent has been erected in the garden.
Police officers have been in place since Friday afternoon after initially responding to a missing persons inquiry.
Miss Burke and her two children were last seen in Bristol on February 17 and were reported missing from their home on March 1. A seven-year-old girl was found alive in the Dundee property and is being supported by police.
It is understood Miss Burke is originally from the Philippines and travelled to the UK to live in Bristol around two years ago.
Miss Burke is understood to have had family members living in the United Kingdom and they have been informed as her next of kin.
One friend in Bristol paid tribute and told reporters: ‘This has broken our hearts and we are all constantly crying.
‘Jellica was so happy and such a sweet girl. Bennylyn was a fulltime mum and her daughter was her life. The last time I saw them was before the lockdown came in December. She looked so happy.’
Door-to-door inquiries have been carried out in the Ardler area of Dundee, where Innes lives.
Detectives are trying to establish the full extent of Miss Burke’s movements in the period since she was last seen until Innes was arrested.
Detective Superintendent Graeme Mackie, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: ‘This is a complex inquiry involving officers in Dundee and specialist resources from across Police Scotland.’