Pudsey dad slayed his wife and two children before killing himself, inquest hears (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pudsey dad slayed his wife and two children before killing himself, inquest hears

2:15pm Monday 8th October 2012 in News By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter

A mother and her two sons were slayed by their father who then killed himself, an inquest heard today.

Teenage sweethearts Richard Smith, 37, his wife Clair, 36, and their sons Ben, nine, and Aaron, one,  were found lying next to each other on a double bed in the main bedroom of the family's detached home in Sheridan Way, Pudsey, on December 11 last year.

The inquest in Leeds heard how all four were found on the bed along with the ashes of the couple’s baby son Jake, who died four years ago.

The exact reason Mr Smith killed his family might never be known, but it was revealed that he had been treated for depression years earlier.

The anniversary of Jake’s death was also around the time of the deaths, the inquest was told.

At the time the tragedy was discovered, it was feared that a chemical had been released, but following investigations by firefighters, the house was declared safe.

Mrs Smith had been strangled, but died from a stab wound to the chest, while Aaron also died after being stabbed in the neck.

Ben was stabbed three times, but died of suffocation and smoke inhalation, and his father died of smoke inhalation although he had also tried to stab himself.

Leeds Coroner, David Hinchliff, recorded verdicts of unlawful killing for Mrs Smith and her two children and that Mr Smith took his own life.