Man will spend rest of his life behind bars for Killamarsh murders

A man has been told he will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to the murders of a pregnant woman and three children who were found at a house in Killarmarsh in Derbyshire in September last year.

32-year-old Damien Bendall, of Chandos Crescent, has been given a rare whole life order.

He had previously admitted manslaughter, but today pleaded guilty to murdering his 35-year-old partner Terri Harris, her 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett, her son John Paul Bennett, 13, and Lacey's friend Connie Gent, also 11, at the home he shared with Ms Harris.

Prosecutors have said they were "brutal, vicious and cruel attacks".

Sentencing Bendall on Wednesday, Mr Justice Sweeney told the killer at Derby Crown Court: "On your behalf Bendall, it is accepted that the seriousness of your offences is so exceptionally high the court must make a whole-life order. I agree."

Detective Inspector Mark Shaw who helped lead the investigation said: “The level of force and violence which was used in these attacks show they were carried out with one intention, and that was to take the lives of Terri, John-Paul, Lacey and Connie.

“They had all, by the nature of their relationship, come to trust Bendall and he took the opportunity to shatter that trust and carry out the horrendous acts. The force and weapon he used would have meant they were very quickly left them incapacitated.

“It is also impossible to comprehend the nature of the further attack on Lacey for all those involved. The families of each victim have had to endure more 15 months of unimaginable distress and anxiety, but at least today they will have some reassurance that Bendall will not be able to cause more harm.

“As an investigation team we have nothing but admiration for the way in which the families have conducted themselves, from helping the team with our enquiries through to having to relive the events through the court process. I personally would like to thank them for that.”

DI Shaw added: “The investigation was carried out by officers and staff from Derbyshire Constabulary, the East Midlands Major Crime Unit, and a large number of other specialist forensic staff and officers, the Crown Prosecution Service and counsel.

“My thanks go out to every single person involved in this operation both in the way they have diligently sought to gather the evidence and conducted themselves when faced with some of the most harrowing circumstances we have seen. Whilst we, as officers and staff members in law enforcement expect to face difficulties, no one should have to deal with such tragedy.”

“Families wish for privacy to manage the aftermath and come to terms with today’s events and hearing.”

Giving his reaction to the whole-life order handed to Damien Bendall, the deputy chief crown prosecutor for the East Midlands, Andrew Baxter, said: "It is hard to put into words the scale of Damien Bendall's barbaric and horrifying actions.

"He went through the house looking for the victims until he had killed them all..."

"What he did left two families utterly devastated by grief and a community in bewilderment and shock.

"I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the families of Terri, John-Paul and Lacey and Connie, who have suffered an unimaginable ordeal, and who still have waited patiently and with great dignity to see justice done. My thoughts are with them.

"I would also like to thank my dedicated legal team who worked tirelessly on the case to ensure this offender won't harm anyone else."

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