Man admits killing woman and three children in Derbyshire

A man has admitted the manslaughter of a mother and three children, but pleaded not guilty to their murders and denied raping one of the child victims.

Damien Bendall, 32, is charged with the rape and murder of Lacey Bennett, 11, as well as the murder of her brother, John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother, Terri Harris, 35, and Lacey’s friend, Connie Gent, 11.

The victims were discovered at a house in Killamarsh, near Sheffield, on 19 September last year. The murder charges allege Bendall killed all four on a day between Friday 17 September and Monday 20 September.

Bendall denied murdering all four victims. He was remanded in custody after entering the pleas at Derby crown court on Tuesday and will face trial on 24 November.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.