Killamarsh deaths: Families of mother and three children pay tribute as investigation continues
‘Fly safe my angel, they came for you and left me behind,’ said devastated father Charles Gent
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The families of the mother and three children who died at a house in Killamarsh have said the “pain is indescribable” as they issued heartfelt tributes to their lost loved ones.
Terri Harris, 35, died along with her young daughter Lacey Bennett, 11, and son John Paul Bennett, 13, on September 19 . Lacey’s friend Connie Gent, 11, who had been staying that evening for a sleepover, was also found dead at the house on Chandos Crescent, Killamarsh, on the Sunday.
Ms Harris’s boyfriend, Damien Bendall, was later charged in connection with their deaths and is due to appear in court in November. A coroner heard on Monday that the four victims had died as a result of a “violent attack”.
Jason Bennett, father of John Paul and Lacey, said in a statement issued through Derbyshire Police that his life “will never be the same again”. He revealed that Lacey, who he described as “my TikTok queen”, had become “totally besotted” with football player Jack Grealish ever since he joined Man City.
She had “a room full of Jack Grealish photos”, he added, “Man City was her new favourite team.”
Ms Harris’s parents, Angela Smith and Lawrence Harris, also issued a statement in honour of their daughter. In it they described Ms Harris as “our world, our everything”, adding: “From the day she was born she was our princess and remained so until she was cruelly taken from us.”
They said she had “made many friends throughout her short life and remained loyal to all of them” and described her as “an amazing mum” whose “babies were her world”.
They revealed that Terri Harris was a care worker and said she “would go above and beyond for the people she cared for.” Her parents added: “Terri was a fanatical West Ham fan and stayed loyal to them from a very young age. She was her mums rock throughout her illnesses and was absolutely idolised by all her grandparents. Terri idolised them back in return.”
Kerry Shelton, mother of Connie Gent, described her daughter’s “amazing imagination” and said she was a girl who “was always ready to put on a show, especially at Christmas when she would write plays to act out with her brothers and sisters.”
She added: “At birthdays, Halloween or at any given chance Connie would be organising, making or baking. She always made things so special.”
The day before she was killed Connie and her friend Lacey had been selling sweets for a cancer charity from a make-shift stall near Chandos Crescent.
Connie’s devastated father, Charles Gent, said that the pain of her death was “indescribable”. “I wake up every morning hoping this has all been a terrible nightmare, but it’s not,” he said, “It’s the unbearable reality that my little girl has gone.”
Connie, he said, “had the ability to keep everyone smiling” and “if someone was down, she could instantly make them feel ok.”
Jason Bennett also spoke of his son John Paul as “absolutely my mini me”. He said: “Behind his tough exterior he was the most loving son you could wish for. His love for his mum was amazing. He just wanted everyone to be happy.”
On Monday, inquests opened into the deaths of Terri Harris, Lacey and John Paul Bennett, and Connie Gent.
The coroner said that the mother and children had died as a result of “violent acts”. The inquest also heard that police went to the house in Killamarsh following a report that Ms Harris’s boyfriend, Damien Bendall, had stabbed himself.
Detective Inspector Graham Prince told the inquest that Derbyshire Police received a phone call from Dorset Police at 7:26am on September 19.
“Dorset Police received a telephone call about the safety of Damien Bendall,” Detective Inspector Prince said.
“That phone call was made by a relative of Damien Bendall. They indicated to Dorset Police that Bendall had suffered a stab wound and that was self-inflicted.”
Derbyshire police officers were met by Bendall when they arrived at the property at 7:39am. Once inside the house, officers found the mother and children already dead.