Investigation continues into Fordingbridge tragedy (From Daily Echo)

Investigation continues into Fordingbridge tragedy

9:10am Friday 30th July 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

INQUESTS will be opened next Tuesday into the horrific deaths of a family of four in their Hampshire home.

The normally peaceful New Forest town of Fordingbridge was left reeling after the discovery of two-year-old Phoebe Case and her 18-month-old sister Nereya side-by-side in a bedroom, while their mum, Vicki, lay stabbed to death downstairs.

Dad Andrew Case, 33 – who is believed to have carried out the killings – was found hanging.

Vicki’s mum Linda Haskell, from Sandleheath, made the grim discovery.

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman will open the inquest on Tuesday morning at 9.15am.

Police officers are due to attend the hearing to report on the progress of their investigation.

Stab wounds So far post-mortems have established that 31-year-old Vicki died from stab wounds, while Andrew died from ligature suspension.

But how the murdered children died remained a mystery last night. The Daily Echo understands that pathologists are carrying out toxicology tests at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester to find out whether the children were drugged or poisoned.

Police are continuing their investigation and have appealed for more information.

They believe the exact movements of the family are key to their investigation and would like to hear from anyone who had contact with the family, or saw any of them after 2pm on Saturday, July 24.

Acting Supt Gary Cooper said: “Detectives are still exploring the circumstances that led to this tragic incident and would appeal for anyone who knew the family to contact them with any information that may assist their investigation.”

Potential weapons have been found in the house and tests carried out.

Forensics experts are examining the two family cars – a dark Land Rover Freelander belonging to Andrew and a grey Volkswagen 1.6 fsi belonging to Vicki – to see if Andrew drove away from the scene after the killings.

Paperwork has been removed from the house as part of a major line of inquiry looking at whether the tragedy was linked to debts.

It has been reported that the couple were struggling with £7,000 of credit card debts on top of other outgoings.

Reports suggest Andrew had filed a formal alternative to bankruptcy, known as an Individual Voluntary Assessment, in 2006 and was coming to the end of a five-year deadline to pay off his creditors.

Prayers will be said on Monday for the family at an act of remembrance at St Mary’s Church, just yards from the home, and at St Aldhelm’s Church in Sandleheath, where the two children were baptised and where Vicki led a nursery. The services will take place simultaneously at 7pm.

The Rev Tracy Robinson, on behalf of the churches in the Avon Valley Partnership, said: “This tragedy has touched many people in our community.”

Previous articles

• Fordingbridge Killings - Neighbours leave flowers ...
• Fordingbridge killings- Family named
• Fordingbridge killings-Police remove cars
• Four bodies found in Hampshire home
• Fordingbridge killings - Neighbour tells of findin...
• Fordingbridge killings - Residents shock

• Anyone with information should contact Hampshire Constabulary, quoting Operation Glove, on 101 or call the charity Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111.