No one could have predicted dad would kill girls, inquest hears (From Daily Echo)

Father David Cass killed his two daughters before hanging himself

3:40pm Friday 28th November 2008 in Paynes Road Deaths By Corey Stephenson, Senior News and Video Reporter

David Cass

“JUST remember, I will always love you.”

Those were the final words of a Southampton dad in a telephone call to his exgirlfriend just after smothering their two young daughters.

As he made the final preparations to take his own life, David Cass phoned Kerrie Hughes, the mother of his two children, Ellie, aged three, and 14-month-old Isobelle, to tell her the toddlers were ‘sleeping forever’ and that he was about to join them, an inquest into their deaths heard.

Kerrie, 20, immediately dialled 999 and police found the two girls lying side-by-side in Cass’ caravan in the grounds of the garage where he worked as an MoT inspector.

Cass, 33, was found hanging inside another building at the site in Paynes Road, with his mobile phone on the ground beneath him.

The inquest heard how Cass struggled to come to terms with the couple’s separation a month earlier and in the days leading up to the tragedy had been talking about committing suicide.

Detective Sergeant Glyn White from Southampton’s major crime unit, told the inquest how Cass had called old friends he had not spoken to in years’ He told one of them he was planning on going to see his father, who had died when Cass was 19.

Southampton Coroner’s Court heard how Cass had handed in his notice at his job and told his boss he was going away for a long time.

Det Sgt White said Cass had previously told Kerrie and members of his family he was feeling suicidal.

“He told her – Kerrie – he had bought a rope,” he said.

“It was not the first time he had made threats of suicide.

He was acting as he was so she would feel sorry for him and she would let him come over to talk. And it did work.”

After meeting with him, Kerrie agreed he could have the children for part of the weekend and he was due to return them home on the night he killed them.

On the night he killed his daughters, on September 21, Cass also called his mum Lynn to say goodbye.

Det Sgt White told the court how Mrs Cass heard him say he could not let the children return to live with their mum.

“David said, ‘The children have gone to sleep, and so am I. I love you mum’.”

A few minutes later, Cass made his final call to Kerrie.

Det Sgt White told the court what Kerrie remembered of the call.

“David told Kerrie, ‘They are asleep’.”

“Kerrie said, ‘What do you mean they are asleep?’”

“David said, ‘They are asleep forever’.”

“Kerrie said, ‘What do you mean?’”

“David said, ‘Just remember I will always love you.’ And the line went dead.”

Det Sgt White said it was likely Kerrie remembered more of the call when she later spoke to a neighbour and that she had said Cass had told her he had killed the girls and was going to end his own life.

The court also heard how before they split in August the couple had become known to police in December last year when Kerrie dialled 999 after returning home to find Cass had packed bags and tried to leave home with the girls.

The next month social services were alerted after Kerrie, who was suffering from postnatal depression, had taken an overdose.

“It was not a serious suicide attempt and more of a cry for help,” said Det Sgt White.

Susan Hall, from Southampton social services, told the court the couple had been in contact with support services, especially since they split up.

“They were a young family under a lot of stress. But there were no signs the children or Kerrie were in danger of being harmed.”

The inquest heard that despite claims by Cass that Kerrie was bringing the children up in a bad living environment, when authorities visited the house in Fair Oak they found no evidence to back up the claims.

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said the evidence spoke for itself and gave a verdict of unlawful death for the two girls and a verdict of suicide for Cass.

“This was something very out of the blue. It is impossible to say it had planning of more than minutes or even seconds.

“No one has provided any evidence that this event could have been anticipated.”

Kerrie and her family attended the inquest but left without comment.