Damien Bendall formerly denied the murders of Terri Harris, her 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett, her 13-year-old son John Paul Bennett, and Lacey’s 11-year-old friend Connie Gent, but then changed his pleas.
A man has pleaded guilty to the murders of a pregnant mother and three young children who were discovered dead in a Derbyshire home.
Damien Bendall had earlier denied murdering his then-girlfriend Terri Harris, her 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett, her 13-year-old son John Paul Bennett, and Lacey’s 11-year-old friend Connie Gent, but had admitted to their manslaughter.
This page contains details of murders that some readers may find upsetting.
Bendall made his revised plea at his Wednesday appearance at the Derby Crown Court, where he also acknowledged having raped Lacey after having earlier denied the charge.
Lacey and John Paul were Ms. Harris’s children from a previous relationship, and Connie was spending the night at the Killamarsh home near Sheffield when the murders occurred.
The court heard that Bendall, 32, is alleged to have searched the family house for his victims individually before attacking them in different rooms to murder them.
The prosecutor told the court that he committed “brutal, savage, and cruel attacks” on a “defenseless” mother and three children at the home he lived with Ms. Harris, 35.
Mr. Mably stated that Bendall assaulted them with a claw hammer, striking them in the head and upper body.
Mr. Mably remarked, “their skulls were smashed in” and “it was abundantly evident that none of the victims stood a chance.”
He continued, “One of the horrifying facts about this case is that the defendant raped 11-year-old Lacey during the attacks.”
The bodies of Ms. Harris and her three children were discovered in Chandos Crescent on September 19, 2017.
After his arrest, Bendall told police officials at the Ripley police station, “I used the hammer.”
He said, “I bet you don’t get four murders in Killamarsh very often, do you? Well, five (murders), because my wife was pregnant.”
Mr. Mably said: “On the night of Saturday, September 17, 2021, and into the early hours of Sunday, September 18, 2021, the defendant savagely and viciously murdered his 35-year-old pregnant partner Terri Harris.
“Additionally, he murdered Terri’s two children from a previous relationship, her 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter Lacey, as well as Connie Gent, who was also 11 years old.
She was Lacey’s buddy who just so happened to be spending the night at Lacey’s place that night.
Bendall’s sentencing is scheduled for later today.
Mr. Mably informed the judge, Mr. Justice Sweeney, that the prosecution was seeking a life sentence for Bendall due to the severity of the crimes.
