A father has pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife and their two young children after they were found at a flat with serious injuries.
Saju Chelavalel admitted to three counts of murder during a 12-minute hearing on Wednesday (April 5). The 52-year-old, who was remanded in custody, spoke through a Malayalam interpreter and admitted to being responsible for the deaths of health worker Anju Asok, 35, Jeeva Saju, six, and Janvi Saju, four.
All three of the victims were discovered at a property in Petherton Court, Kettering, on December 15 last year. Despite best efforts from paramedics, Ms Asok died at the scene while the two children died later in hospital.
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While Chelavalel, of Petherton Court, answered 'guilty' to two of the counts, however he gave a longer answer to the charge of murdering Jeeva. He said: "I don’t know what happened to the children, but I plead guilty.”
Adjourning the case until July 3, Judge David Herbert KC said: “There can only be one sentence in law, namely a life sentence, but the judge dealing with your case on that day will have to set the appropriate minimum term. In the meantime, you will be remanded in custody.”
An inquest which was was opened shortly after the victims' deaths heard how it was believed the two children had been strangled. An earlier hearing was told that a forensic post-mortem at Leicester Royal Infirmary concluded that all three victims died of asphyxiation.
However, the coroner said that the medical cause of death for the children had been listed as strangulation. In a statement issued after the case, senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Simon Barnes, said: “This was an absolutely tragic case and there are no words to articulate the devastation Saju Chelavalel caused when he chose to end the lives of Anju, Jeeva and Janvi.
“I am pleased that he has pleaded guilty and spared Anju’s family and friends the pain of a trial. He will have to live with what he has done forever and I hope one day, he truly comprehends the pain his actions have caused.
“Anju Asok will be remembered as so much more than this man’s victim. She was a dedicated nurse, loving mother, and loyal friend. My thoughts remain with her loved ones and will continue to do so long into the future.”
Chelavalel will be sentenced in July.
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