Boyfriend, 31, appears in court to face four murder charges over deaths of mother, 35, her son, 13, her daughter, 11, and best friend, 11, who were all found dead in his home after sleepover
The boyfriend of a mother found dead alongside her two children and one of their best friends after a sleepover has appeared in court charged with their murders.
Damien Bendall, 31, had been detained at the scene by police after they discovered the four bodies in his home in Chandos Crescent in Killamarsh, Derbyshire.
This morning detectives investigating the killings charged him with the four murders.
Bendall appeared via video link at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court over the murders of Terri Harris,35, her children Lacey Bennett,11 her brother John Paul,12 , their friend Connie Gent,11.
Shaven headed Bendall spoke only to confirm his name,date of birth and address during a brief four-minute hearing. He did not enter a plea.
He was remanded in custody by magistrate deputy district judge Gary Garland until Friday when he will appear at Derby Crown Court.
Relatives of Ms Harris said that Bendall had been in a relationship with her.
Emotional tributes were paid to the children by their parents as a vigil was held on Monday to remember them.
An artist's impression of Bendall as he appeared in court for the first time this morning over the four murders this weekend
Boyfriend Damien Bendall, 31, was charged this morning with four murders at the Derbyshire sleepover on Saturday night
Two children John (left), 13, and Lacey, 11 (right) were found dead in the house alongside Ms Harris and Connie Gent, 11
Connie Gent, 11, was at a sleepover the night before she was found dead alongside friend Lacey, John and Terri Harris
Image of Terri Harris, the mother of John, 13, and Lacey, 11, found in the house in Derbyshire on Sunday morning by police
The four children and adult were found dead in Killamarsh, which is near Sheffield but over the county border in Derbyshire
Charlie Gent said 'my little girl has gone' and 'I don't want anyone to ever go through what I am going through right now' after losing his daughter Connie.
The devastated father said he 'can't put into words or even how to feel or react' when asked about the attack that left his daughter dead.
Meanwhile Jason Bennett collapsed in tears as he laid flowers for his children Lacey and John Paul at the property.
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Mr Bennett stayed at the scene for more than half-an-hour on Monday, and said he was 'heartbroken; million pieces; shattered'.
Connie, Lacey, John Paul and Terri were found dead on Sunday morning in the house following the sleepover between best friends Connie and Lacey.
Derbyshire Police said yesterday a 31-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene, with officers not having any prior contact with those involved.
Jason Bennett, the father of the two children who were found in the house, paid tribute to them in a number of harrowing posts on social media last night. His two children are John, 13, and Lacey, 11, and is being supported by two friends
Mr Bennett, the father of two children found dead alongside their best friend and mother, at the house yesterday
Hundreds of mourners headed to Baker Park, a children's play area behind Chandos Crescent, at 6.30pm last night
Men, women and children shed tears as they gathered at the children's playground near the scene of the killings on Monday
Locals shed a tear as they attend a vigil near to the tragic scene at Chandos Crescent, in Derbyshire, on Monday evening
Youngsters put down candles and lit them in memory of the four victims of the horror attack over the weekend near Sheffield
Murder squad detectives are also probing activity at the property at 9.45pm the night before - with any witnesses who heard or saw anything sought - while questions remained over what could have sparked the killings.
Hundreds of mourners headed to Baker Park, a children's play area behind Chandos Crescent, at 6.30pm for an emotional vigil to the victims on Monday night.
Mr Gent paid tribute to daughter Connie, saying: 'Parents, spend as much time with your kids as you possibly can.
'If you're a parent and arguing please don't stop that child from seeing the other parent. You never know what's round the corner.
'I've learnt the hard way like most things in life and it's too late and I don't want anyone to ever go through what I am going through right now.
'My little girl has gone, I can't even put into words or even how to feel or react right now. I shouldn't even be writing this, now I have to live with the fact I was helpless to protect her as I always promised and she's gone.'
He added in the social media post: 'Fly safe baby girl I love you with all my heart and always will. Going to miss you like crazy.'
Jason Bennett, the father of the two children who were found in the house, paid tribute to them in a number of online posts
John, 13, and Lacey, 11, found in the house alongside their mother Terri Harris in the property on Sunday morning by police
John is affectionately called Mr Bennett's 'mini me' in footage of him enjoying himself and Lacey on a playground roundabout
Mr Bennett also shared a video of his daughter Lacey walking through woodlands, calling her the 'apple of his eye'
On Monday Mr Bennett released video tributes to his two children, calling John Paul his 'mini me' while sharing footage of him on a playground roundabout.
He said: 'My heart and soul of my life. You brought me laughter everyday. A classic you this one.
'I wish I could have been there and saved you to stop all the pain suffered and told you everything will be ok. But now I've suffered the worst thing any parent could go through.'
He also posted a video of Lacey walking through woodland, with her described as the 'apple of my eye'. Mr Bennett added: 'Watching you grow into a beautiful and caring young lady has made my life.
'There should have been many many more years watching my flower grow and grow but for now. One day we will meet. Only my kids can mend this broken heart. Xxx'.
Mr Bennett told reporters gathered near the scene of the incident on Monday: 'I can't believe I'll never see them again. I just want to hug them and kiss them. I'm heartbroken.'
He wrote earlier on Facebook: 'I need my babies back. Life will never be the same. My angels. Won't be long till I'm touching your cheeks, holding you close and kissing your beautiful faces. Only you two can fix me'.
In another post, he said: 'Absolutely heartbroken my heart into a million pieces. I didn't protect my beautiful babies enough and now they have been suddenly taken away from me.
The street has now been cordoned off and multiple police vehicles remained at the scene all day on Monday and Tuesday
Floral tributes at the scene in Chandos Crescent in Killamarsh, near Sheffield, on Monday where four people were found dead
Jason Bennett, father of two killed children, leaves a note at the scene of the suspected murder in Killamarsh on Monday'I'm writing this as I'm lost and broken on a four-hour drive back home having just received heart-breaking news that my beautiful boy John and beautiful daughter Lacey have been taken away from me.'
His parents Debbie and Trevor Bennett also paid tribute to the 'well mannered' and 'beautiful' youngsters on Monday. They arrived at the scene in Killamarsh to lay flowers in memory of the children.
They described John and Lacey as the 'most polite kids you'll ever meet' and revealed their father had to drive home from his holiday in Devon after finding out the tragic news.
Mrs Bennett said: 'We found out about tea time yesterday. Their dad was on holiday in Devon and he had to drive home last night knowing he had lost his children.
'He is absolutely heartbroken. He'll be blaming himself, there will be the 'what ifs'. I don't know how he will come through this.'
Mrs Bennett said both children were football fans and Lacey was a West Ham supporter while John loved Sheffield Wednesday. She added: 'Lacey was a pink girl, very sparkly. John was into his computers.
'They were the most well-mannered kids you would want to meet. Always please and thank you, if you ever bought them a present, the first thing they would do is go on Facebook and thank you.'
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