The Killamarsh Murders: An Avoidable Tragedy? (Derbyshire, 2021)

In this end-of-season special, I tell the stories of Terri Harris, John and Lacey Bennett and Connie Gent, who were murdered in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, on September 18, 2021.

Terri and her two children, John and Lacey, lived in a property at Chandos Crescent, Killamarsh, with Damien Bendall, a man whom Terri had met on an online dating app after separating from Jason Bennett, John and Lacey's dad.

Many mistakes and missed opportunities were made regarding Bendall's risk status to those he knew and children by the probation service. Hence, I've posed the question in this episode's title as to whether this was an avoidable tragedy.

On September 18, Connie stayed at the Killamarsh house to spend time with her best friend, Lacey. Between the late hours of that evening and the early hours of the following day, all four were killed by Bendall, whose arrest later that day was caught on police bodycam footage.

Bendall received a whole life order in December 2022 after pleading guilty to four counts of murder and one count of rape of a child under 13.

Intro music:⁣

David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣

linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic⁣

References:⁣

Bent, L. (2021, October 24). Funeral held for Killamarsh victims John Paul and Lacey Bennett. Derbyshire Times. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/people/funeral-held-for-killamarsh-victims-john-paul-and-lacey-bennett-3430824

Christodoulou, H. (2021, October 18). Dad makes heartbreaking request to guests attending funeral of his ‘beautiful babies’ after kids killed at sleepover. The Sun. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16452193/dad-request-funeral-children-killed-killamarsh/

Corcoran, S. (2022a, October 4). Killamarsh murder and rape suspect Damien Bendall admits killing three kids and a mother. YorkshireLive. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/live-damien-bendall-accused-killamarsh-25168928

Corcoran, S. (2022b, December 21). Man slaughtered mum and 3 kids at sleepover before raping girl as she lay dying. Mirror. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-man-admits-killing-mum-28785672

Corcoran, S. (2022c, December 21). Terri Harris’ mum’s never-ending agony over “monster” who murdered her only child and grandchildren. YorkshireLive. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/terri-harris-mums-never-ending-25808208

Damien Bendall. (2022, December 21). The Law Pages. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Damien-Bendall-35913-1.law

Evans, A. (2021, September 21). Fundraiser for funerals of kids and woman killed in Killamarsh tragedy. YorkshireLive. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/killamarsh-tragedy-fundraiser-set-up-21626488

Fuller, P. (2021, September 27). Killamarsh deaths update as inquest details final moments before police found bodies. YorkshireLive. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/yorkshire-news/killamarsh-deaths-update-inquest-details-21689722

Ghazali, R. (2021, October 21). Terri Harris Killamarsh: Funeral held for “amazing” mum killed along with three children. The Star. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/funeral-held-for-amazing-mum-killed-in-killamarsh-tragedy-3428455

Gildea, S., & Dzinzi, M. (2021, September 23). Killamarsh: Everything we know so far as murder accused in court. YorkshireLive. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/killamarsh-murder-investigation-everything-know-21615859

Gray, C. (2021, September 20). Devastated friends pay tribute to “wonderful” mum in Killamarsh tragedy. YorkshireLive. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/terri-harris-beautiful-wonderful-mother-21621990

Grierson, J. (2021, September 30). Families pay tribute to woman and children killed in Killamarsh. The Guardian. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/30/families-pay-tribute-to-woman-and-children-killed-in-killamarsh

Johnson, B. (2021, September 21). Derbyshire deaths: Dad’s tribute after his two children, their mother and friend “on a sleepover” are killed. Sky News. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://news.sky.com/story/derbyshire-deaths-dads-tribute-after-his-two-children-their-mother-and-friend-on-a-sleepover-are-killed-12412856

Lowbridge, B. C. (2022, December 21). Killamarsh murders: Damien Bendall given whole-life order. BBC News. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64038743

O’Neill, S., & Mullender-Francis, A. (2023). Independent serious further offence  review of Damien Bendall. In Justice Inspectorates. HM Inspectorate of Probation. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/01/Independent-serious-further-offence-review-of-Damien-Bendall-1.pdf

Ulke, A. (2022, December 22). Damien Bendall: Full timeline of Killamarsh child killer’s actions leading up to and after murders. The Star. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/damien-bendall-full-timeline-of-killamarsh-child-killers-actions-leading-up-to-and-after-murders-3963547?page=1

William, H., Payne, J., & Gray, C. (2021, September 22). Heartbroken father of Connie Gent ,11, pays tribute to his ‘shining star’ killed at Killamarsh sleepover. YorkshireLive. Retrieved September 12, 2023, from https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/heartbroken-father-connie-gent-11-21649146