Avon and Somerset Police release statement following Andrew Innes conviction
Bennylyn Burke and her 2-year-old daughter Jellica from South Gloucestershire were killed sometime between February and March 2021 by the 52-year-old
Last updated 7th Feb 2023
Avon and Somerset Police have released a statement following the conviction yesterday (February 6) of 52-year-old Andrew Innes.
He has been ordered to serve at least 36 years behind bars after being found guilty of murdering a woman and her two-year-old daughter at his Dundee home, as well as sexually abusing and raping another girl.
The 52-year-old was found guilty by a jury of murdering 25-year-old Bennylyn Burke and Jellica Burke from South Gloucestershire after a five-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, which also found he sexually abused the toddler and raped another child at his Troon Avenue address between February 20th and March 5th 2021.
During his trial in court, Innes claimed he was suffering from a mental disorder and pleaded a defence of diminished responsibility.
But the jury of eight men and seven women dismissed this on Monday after around two and a half hours of deliberation, and during the sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Beckett yesterday said Innes killed "an innocent woman and defenceless child".
Innes repeatedly hit the woman on the back of the head with a hammer, then stabbed her with a samurai sword. The toddler died of asphyxiation.
Following the guilty verdict, Detective Inspector Will Thorpe from Avon and Somerset Police said: “Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Bennylyn and Jellica Burke upon today’s verdict. This is a truly tragic case which saw two lives cut short by the horrific actions of one man.
“Avon and Somerset Police launched a missing persons enquiry upon their disappearance being reported to us in March 2021 and it was through diligent analysis from detectives and our Intelligence Department that we managed to link Andrew Innes to the investigation.
“Once his vehicle movements were traced from South Gloucestershire back north, we asked Police Scotland colleagues to assist and attend Innes’ address in Dundee and hoped to find Bennylyn and Jellica safe and well. Sadly, that was not to be case.
“The community response to their disappearance showed both mother and daughter were much-loved and our sympathies today go out to all those affected. Such incidents are incredibly rare, but that does not make them any less heart-breaking.
“We would like to thank all partner agencies for their support during our enquiries, especially to our colleagues at Police Scotland who undertook a thorough investigation in incredibly difficult circumstances so as to secure Innes’ conviction.”
Innes now faces life imprisonment with each murder carrying a mandatory life sentence.
'The hope and light of our family'
The family of Bennylyn and Jellica Burke have paid tribute to them after Andrew Innes was found guilty of their murders.
In a statement made through the Scottish prosecution service's Victim and Information Advice (VIA) service they said:
"Bennylyn was the hope and light of our family. That light has been cruelly snuffed out".
"Bennylyn had bright ideas and big dreams. She bravely left home to seek a better future in a country far away. Instead, she found the worst cruelty we could ever imagine at the hands of someone she trusted. We shall be forever haunted by what happened to her in this far off place such a long way from us, her family.
"In the Philippines, poor families like ours very often have daughters and sisters who seek to fulfil their dreams for a better future abroad. Never do we imagine it will end in such terror and horror.
"We cannot drive from our minds what happened to her and what happened to Jellica, or the fear they must have felt after experiencing violence from Andrew Innes. A big part of our family has been torn from us. We shall never see Bennylyn and Jellica again. We shall never know our beloved Jellica or ever see her grow up.
"We pray for the child who suffered the cruelty of Andrew Innes. We are happy that she is being cared for and recovering from her trauma. Women and girls must be protected from predators like Andrew Innes.
"There is nothing that can restore Bennylyn and Jellica to us. But the jury's guilty verdict for murder provides some comfort to our family and friends and brings justice for Bennylyn and Jellica."
Police response
From Police Scotland, Detective Chief Inspector Graham Smith said in almost 30 years of police "the depravity shown by Andrew Innes was beyond anything" he or colleagues had seen before.
"Not only did he callously take the lives of a young mother and an innocent child, he then set out to escape justice by burying their bodies beneath his kitchen floor," he said.
"His actions showed no regard for human life, or for the suffering and anguish he brought to their loved ones."
Guilty verdict
Andrew Innes was found guilty of murdering a woman and her two-year-old daughter at his Dundee home, as well as sexually abusing and raping another girl.
The 52-year-old was found guilty by a jury of murdering Bennylyn Burke, 25, and Jellica Burke after a five-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, which also found he sexually abused the toddler and raped another child at his Troon Avenue address between February 20 and March 5 2021.
Innes, who gave evidence in his defence, told the trial he was "apocalyptically angry" when he struck Ms Burke with a hammer and stabbed her on February 23 and around two to three days later killed the toddler.
He had denied all charges against him and lodged a special defence of diminished responsibility, but the jury of eight men and seven women dismissed this on Monday after around two and a half hours of deliberation.
Innes repeatedly hit the woman on the back of the head with a hammer, then stabbed her with a samurai sword. The toddler died of asphyxiation.
A jury has been told it must find Andrew Innes guilty of murdering a woman and her two-year-old daughter by the trial judge.
Andrew Innes, 52, is accused of murdering Bennylyn Burke, 25, and Jellica Burke at his Dundee home between February 20 and March 5 2021, as well as sexually abusing the toddler and raping another girl.
He admitted to killing them but denied their murder, and had submitted a defence of lacking criminal responsibility and diminished responsibility.
But in his summing up Lord Beckett told the jury at the High Court in Edinburgh that these could no longer be upheld after the evidence of Dr Gordan Cowan as to the accused's mental state.
Lord Becket told the jury on Monday: "I'm directing you on charges one and two (the murder charges) you will return a verdict of guilty."