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Stop Press for Ill
Eagle 20. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ News.telegraph.co.uk Sunday
14 July 2002 14
July 2002 Murder and
suicide suspected in car deaths The deaths of a father and his four children
found in a blazing car were tonight being treated by police as a possible
murder and suicide. Scotland Yard said the bodies were
discovered in a silver Nissan Primera on an industrial estate in South
Crescent, West Ham, east London. Neighbours of the man - who was estranged
from his wife - and his children - two girls aged 12 and nine and two boys
aged seven and six - said they were devastated by the tragedy. Grace Omia, 31, said she was a friend of the
dead man, who was named Claude and had come to Britain from the Congo in
Africa. Laying flowers at the scene, she wept:
"He loved his family so much I don't know what was the motive. We are
all in shock. I saw him last month and he seemed OK. There were no problems
that I knew of with his wife. "He was a quiet, calm, happy person, I
don't understand how a lovely man can do something like this." Her sister, Cissy Owschi, said: "I knew
the father but my sister was closest to them. It's a tragedy, I don't know
what has happened." Post mortem examinations on the dead man and
his children were due to be carried out later today. Police said their
identities had yet to be confirmed. Detective Superintendent Jim Osbourne from
the Serious Crime Group told a press conference at Forest Gate police
station: "Murder and suicide are a potential line of inquiry. "The early indications are that the man
found is native to this part of London. His estranged partner has been informed
of the death. The man's marital history and custody arrangements will be one
aspect of our inquiries. "There has been an intense fire, the
vehicle and the bodies are badly burnt but it is too early to say the cause
of the fire and the cause of death." Forensics experts and a Home Office
pathologist spent the day examining the scene. Officers were also working to
retrieve CCTV images from the area. The bodies were removed late in the
afternoon in a private ambulance with blacked out windows. The car was taken
away shortly afterwards. The headlights were burnt out and fire damage was
visible on the front and back bumpers. Mr Osbourne said emergency services were
called to the scene at 12.45am after a witness passing through the area saw a
car alight. "We hope there are more witnesses but
it is an isolated spot. The only people I would expect to find there at that
time of night are courting couples, night workers and delivery
companies," he added. Anyone
with information should contact the incident room on 0208 345 3985. |
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