Updated: 8.15 pm
FORMER EASTENDERS ACTOR Sian Blake and her two sons died from “head and neck injuries”, according to provisional post-mortem examinations announced tonight.
In a statement, Metropolitan Police formally identified the three bodies found on Tuesday as those of Sian Blake (43) and her sons Zachary Bilal Kent-Blake (8) and Amon Ben George Kent-Blake (4).
The bodies were discovered following police excavations in the garden of the home Sian Blake shared with Arthur Simpson-Kent, the boys’ father, in south-east London.
Earlier today, Blake’s sister urged her husband to “face justice”.
At a press briefing at London’s Scotland Yard, Blake’s sister Ava pleaded with Simpson-Kent to return to Britain amid reports that he had been seen in Ghana, west Africa.
“I want him to face justice,” the BBC quotes her as saying.
“It’s my nephews more than anything. My brother is angry. My cousins are angry.
They are angry about Sian, but the boys have devastated us. We have lost a generation. We can never replace them.
Ava said that her sister had planned to end her relationship with the 48-year-old hairdresser some time ago.
“In our opinion the relationship had already come to an end but she hadn’t quite made that break or that decision to leave Arthur.”
The Met Police has also announced that it voluntarily referred its handling of the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission after it emerged officers had spoken to Simpson-Kent days before he travelled to Africa.
“An initial review has highlighted some potential issues regarding the handling and grading of the missing persons investigation.
“The Directorate of Professional Standards was informed on Monday, 4 January and is working with the investigation team to fully understand the timeline of police interaction with the family.”
In tonight’s statement, police declined to comment on the possibility that Simpson-Kent had fled the UK.
Police are aware of reports in the media that Arthur Simpson-Kent has travelled abroad.
This continues to be one line of investigation and for operational reasons we are not prepared to discuss this further at this stage.
Additional reporting by Dan Mac Guill.
Originally published: 6.15 pm
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