Partner of Eastenders actress Sian Blake admits killing her and two sons
THE PARTNER of former Eastenders actress Sian Blake has admitted killing her and their two young sons, the Old Bailey heard today.
Arthur Simpson-Kent has admitted killing Sian Blake and their two children
He admits the killings. There is no objection to that being reported
Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, fled to Ghana after allegedly murdering Ms Blake, 43, Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, and burying them in shallow graves in their back garden in Bethnal Green.
Their bodies were discovered on January 5 this year, three weeks after they were reported missing. It is believed the family were killed shortly after they were last seen alive on December 13.
Simpson-Kent was brought back to the UK in February and appeared in court today by videolink from Belmarsh prison.
Wearing a red jumper and black trousers, and sporting a beard, he spoke only to confirm his name.
He is yet to enter pleas to three counts of murder but his barrister Jim Sturman QC said: "He admits the killings. There is no objection to that being reported."
Arthur Simpson-Kent fled to Ghana following the killing
Mr Sturman added: "We hope to have a report within three or four weeks and therefore the Crown will need to instruct their expert.
"But may I say this - he admits the killings.
"Mr Simpson-Kent accepts the killings.
"The issues however may depend on the results of the psychiatrist analysis."
It is believed the family were killed shortly after they were last seen alive last December 13
Murder detectives were not called in to help with the investigation until Ms Blake's Renault Scenic was found in Calvert Road, Bethnal Green, on January 3 this year.
Sniffer dogs pointed out areas in the garden and on January 5 three bodies were discovered during an excavation of the garden.A post-mortem found they died of head and neck injuries.
Ms Blake starred in 56 episodes of Eastenders as the singer Frankie Pierre and appeared in The Bill, Casualty and Doctors before becoming a sign language teacher. She had motor neurone disease when she died.
Police discovered the bodies of Sian and her two children on January 5
Sian Blake police investigation
The Metropolitan Police face an watchdog inquiry into the way they handled the investigation of the disappearance of Sian and her two children. The NSPCC had passed on concerns about the children to the police but officers left after speaking to Simpson-Kent.
He travelled to Glasgow by coach before flying to Ghana via Amsterdam on December 18. He was arrested by Ghanaian authorities and extradited in the coastal town of Butre on January 9 after locals recognised him from social media.
Simpson-Kent, of Pembroke Road, Erith, London, remains in custody. He is currently due to stand trial on October 4.