Man admits murdering his wife and their two children

A 52-year-old man has admitted killing his wife and their two young children.

Saju Chelavalel pleaded guilty at Northampton Crown Court to the murders of NHS nurse Anju Asok, 35, their six-year-old son Jeeva Saju and their four-year-old daughter Janvi Saju.

All three died after being found with serious injuries at a flat in Petherton Court, Kettering, Northamptonshire, on 15 December last year.

Assisted by an interpreter in the dock, Chelavalel answered “guilty” to two of the counts he faced.

In relation to the charge of murdering Jeeva, he replied: “I don’t know what happened to the children, but I plead guilty.”

Judge David Herbert KC adjourned the case until 3 July when Chelavalel is due to be sentenced at the same court.

He told Chelavalel: “There can only be one sentence in law, namely a life sentence, but the judge dealing with your case on that day will have to set the appropriate minimum term.”

After the deaths, post-mortem examinations at Leicester Royal Infirmary concluded all three victims had died of asphyxiation.

But at the opening of the inquests into their deaths, a coroner said the medical cause of death for the children had been listed as strangulation, while Ms Asok had died of asphyxia.

Ms Asok was a staff nurse at Kettering General Hospital.

Its chief executive Deborah Needham described her as “a committed and compassionate staff nurse, who was loved and respected by her dear friends and colleagues”.

‘Absolutely tragic case’

Detective Inspector Simon Barnes, senior investigating officer at Northamptonshire Police, said: “This was an absolutely tragic case and there are no words to articulate the devastation Saju Chelavalel caused when he chose to end the lives of Anju, Jeeva and Janvi.

“I am pleased that he has pleaded guilty and spared Anju’s family and friends the pain of a trial. He will have to live with what he has done forever and I hope one day, he truly comprehends the pain his actions have caused.

“Anju Asok will be remembered as so much more than this man’s victim. She was a dedicated nurse, loving mother, and loyal friend.”