School pupils offered extra support following Costessey deaths

Two schools say they're offering students extra support in light of the tragic deaths of four people, including two children, at a house in Costessey.

The bodies of four members of the same family, including a man, 45, and a 36-year-old woman, were discovered at an address in the town, near Norwich, on Friday morning.

Support is being offered at the two schools where the girls were pupils.

Matthew Cross, headteacher at Queen's Hill Primary School and Dr Roger Harris at Taverham High School have issued a joint statement.

"Both our schools have worked closely alongside colleagues from Norfolk County Council's critical incident support team over the weekend to ensure we have extra support and provision in place so we can meet the needs of both our pupils and staff at this difficult time," they said.

Post-mortem examinations carried out on Sunday found the 45-year-old man died of a stab wound to the neck, while the 36-year-old woman died of a number of stab wounds to the neck.

The bodies of the two girls will be examined on Wednesday.

A pile of floral tributes, and two unicorn toys, had been left a short distance from the house by Monday.

The items were left by the sign for Stony Grove, a road which joins Allan Bedford Crescent, with the house remaining taped off by police and with a number of marked vehicles still at the scene.

One of the tributes said: "Jasmine, you were such a sweet, caring girl, yourself and your sister didn't deserve to have your lives taken away.

"You would always be smiling in primary school.

"Fly high beautiful girls."

Another said: "You will be missed. I'm sorry to whoever was in the family and is going through it. Sorry Jasmin."

A man called 999 from the property on Allan Bedford Crescent at around 6am on Friday, but police were not dispatched there.

Officers made the discovery about an hour and 15 minutes later after a member of the public alerted them at around 7am.

Norfolk Police, which has referred itself to the police watchdog over the delay, is not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy.

Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Giles Orpen-Smellie has issued a statement.

"The deaths of four members of a family in Costessey on 19 January was a terrible tragedy.

"I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to all those who have been affected by what has happened.

"I would like to assure the residents of Norfolk that, on their behalf, I will be holding the Chief Constable to account robustly for the actions of his officers and staff.

"The Independent Office of Police Conduct will investigate what took place.

"I am clear that the residents of Norfolk must be able to depend on the effective working of the 999 system."

Detectives said the man and two children lived at the address, but the woman was visiting and lived elsewhere.

All four were found with injuries.

The force had already referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct on Friday over police contact about a missing person inquiry at the address last month.

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