We want a full inquiry into the police delays, says family of actress Sian
THE family of Sian Blake yesterday called for a full inquiry into why it took police almost three weeks to find her body and those of her young sons.
Police discovered the partially decomposed bodies of Miss Blake and Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, buried in their back garden – 18 days after searching the property.
The delay allowed Arthur SimpsonKent – Miss Blake’s partner and the father of her sons – to flee the house.
It is feared the 48-year-old has travelled to Ghana, the country of his birth, on flights via Glasgow and Amsterdam.
Yesterday Scotland Yard referred its handling of the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, who will focus on the way in which officers handled the early part of the investigation.
Last night Miss Blake’s grieving family demanded answers as to why police did not find the bodies when they searched the bungalow in Erith, south east London, on December 18.
They also expressed their anger that it took Scotland Yard more than two weeks to issue a missing persons appeal for the 43-year-old EastEnders actress – who was seriously ill with motor neurone disease – and the two youngsters.
Miss Blake’s aunt, who gave her name as Terry, said: ‘The police did take a long time to find the bodies and the family want answers. Officers are probably trying their best and we know it is difficult but we want a full investigation.
‘Sian’s mum is obviously very upset. The police are coming to visit the family today.’
She added: ‘I didn’t know Sian’s partner much and I didn’t realise
‘The family want answers’
he is believed to have gone to Africa, but they obviously need to find him quickly.’
Last night the Met continued to appeal for information relating to the whereabouts of Mr Simpson-Kent, but refused to reveal what country they believe he is in.
Interpol, the international police force, are understood to have put out an alert for his whereabouts, but last night refused to confirm this.
Miss Blake, who played homewrecker Frankie Pierre in the BBC soap in the mid-1990s, and her sons were last seen during a visit to relatives in Leyton, east London, on December 13.
Three days later, after an organisation raised the alarm, police spoke to Mr Simpson-Kent at the family home. After the visit Miss Blake and the two boys were officially registered as missing.
Texts sent from Miss Blake’s phone claimed that she wanted to be alone with her children for her last Christmas. However police are now examining allegations the texts were actually sent by Mr Simpson-Kent to dampen any suspicion.
The hairdresser was classed as a ‘high-risk missing person’ when police could not get hold of him following their conversation with him on December 16.
Last night a neighbour who spotted the interview said: ‘The police were standing outside for almost ten minutes talking to Arthur outside.
‘He was very animatedly waving his arms and it looked to me like he didn’t want them to come into the house. I just thought it was quite strange because if police turned up at my door with something serious I would have invited them in.
‘Eventually they did go into the house but I’m not sure how long they were there as I had to leave.’
After speaking to Mr Simpson-Kent officers made almost daily door-todoor inquiries with neighbours – with one telling them that they had spotted Mr Simpson-Kent removing full bin-liners from the bungalow.
On January 2 – almost three weeks after Miss Blake and her children were last seen – police even knocked on the door of a flat in Walthamstow, north east London, that Mr SimpsonKent and Miss Blake moved out of four years ago in the vain hope that the current resident might know where they were.
The murder squad finally took over the investigation two days later after Miss Blake’s silver Renault Scenic was found in Bethnal Green, east London, on January 3.
Yesterday a forensic team continued to search the property for clues as well-wishers started to leave tributes to the victims.
One note said: ‘Sian, Zachary and Amon, we will all miss you and you are always in our hearts.
‘Sian, your beautiful boys are a credit to you. I loved how they would wave and call out to me whenever I saw them.
‘Rest in peace. Such a lovely lady and with your boys, you are safe now.’