Former EastEnders actress Sian Blake, 43, and her two young sons, Zachary Kent-Blake, 8, and Amon Kent-Blake, 4, were brutally murdered with an axe by her partner Arthur Simpson-Kent in December 2015. The killer then buried their bodies in shallow graves in the garden of the family home in Erith, South-East London, before fleeing to Ghana.
Background and Diagnosis
Earlier that month, Sian had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), a terminal illness that had begun manifesting symptoms nearly two years prior. The debilitating condition severely weakens the arms and hands, leaving her unable to defend herself. Following her successful 56-episode run on EastEnders as soul singer Frankie Pierre (1996-1997), Sian had become a sign language interpreter and voiceover artist.
After receiving her diagnosis, Sian visited her mother in Leyton, East London, and asked if she and her sons could move back in. She was considering selling her Erith home partly to fund care costs and partly due to her 'unhealthy' relationship with Arthur, a part-time drug dealer. She was reportedly on the verge of leaving him when she returned home the next day.
The Murders
Upon discovering Sian's intention to end the relationship, Arthur claimed 'something snapped' and seized a small axe kept in the kitchen. He struck Sian repeatedly on the head while she was bent over looking at the floor. He then used the same axe to kill his two young sons. Sentencing remarks from Mr Justice Singh stated: 'The manner in which the Defendant killed his victims in this case was truly horrific.' Pathology evidence indicated repeated blows with a blunt instrument and a bladed weapon, ensuring their deaths.
Cover-Up and Flight
After the murders, Arthur wrapped the bodies in plastic, buried them in shallow graves, and thoroughly cleaned the house, even partially painting to hide blood evidence. He used Sian's phone to send messages to her relatives, pretending to be her. When police visited, he claimed she had gone to Cambridge. He then fled in her car, abandoned it in East London, and unsuccessfully tried to board a flight. By December 19, he had arrived in Accra, Ghana, where witnesses saw him partying and taking women to breakfast on New Year's Eve. He even attempted to bribe someone who recognised him from news coverage.
Apprehension and Sentencing
On January 9, 2016, police tracked down Arthur in Ghana. He claimed he had carried out a 'mercy killing' that Sian consented to, as she felt she had 'no meaningful life' left. He was extradited to the UK and pleaded guilty to all three counts of murder. Former Metropolitan Police detective Steve Keogh described it as 'probably one of the lowest points of my career.' Arthur was given a whole life order, with the judge dismissing his mental health defence. Sian's mother called him an 'evil monster,' saying: 'We are all living a life sentence, we are all living a nightmare.'
