Man accused of murdering mother and her two-year old daughter

51-year-old Andrew Innes allegedly concealed their bodies under the kitchen floor at a property in Dundee

Author: Chloe ShawPublished 28th Sep 2021

Warning: Distressing content

A Dundee man has appeared in court charged with the murder of 25 -year-old Bennylyn Burke from South Gloucester, and her 2-year-old daughter Jellica at a house in Troon Avenue, Dundee.

51-year-old Innes today faced the charges as he appeared via video-link at the High Court in Glasgow, but made no plea.

The alleged murders are said to have occurred between February 20th and March 5th this year.

Innes reportedly stabbed Bennylyn on the body with a knife as well as repeatedly striking her on the head with a hammer and the handle of the blade.

The indictment alleges Innes murdered her two year-old daughter Jellica and that he did "asphyxiate her by means unknown"

Prosecutors claim the 51 year-old then hid the bodies under the kitchen floor of the property with a further accusation that he also raped a seven year-old girl.

This includes a claim that he did wrap the body of Bennylyn in a rubble bag, blanket and tarpaulin and then concealed the corpse in concrete under the kitchen floor at the Troon Avenue property.

It's also claimed that Innes told police investigating Bennylyn's whereabouts that he had driven her, Jellica and another child to the Old Inns Cafe in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire on February 28th.

He is said to have told the officers he left them with an "unknown male" and that he had no contact with them afterwards.

Innes is separately accused of assaulting, raping and attempting to rape that same child as well detaining her against her will at the house in Dundee.

This is also said to have happened between the same dates of the alleged murders.

Innes had no lawyer acting for him in court. The nature of the charges means he must get legal representation for any possible trial.

The case has been adjourned until a further hearing in December.

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