World News
SA woman held in UK over child deaths─── 15:48 Wed, 23 Apr 2014
London - A South African woman was arrested after three young children believed to be suffering from life-limiting genetic disorders were found dead in a London house.
The 43-year-old woman was held after the bodies of a girl aged four and two boys aged three were found in a large semi-detached house in New Malden, south London, on Tuesday night, the UK-based Press Association reported.
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths of the youngsters, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
Scotland Yard said the woman was taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries before being discharged and arrested.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, said the three younger children who lived at the house were suffering from genetic disorders --believed to be life-limiting -- but an elder child, thought to be around seven or eight years old, was in good health.
She said the family, originally from South Africa, were "really, really lovely people" who moved into the suburb of New Malden with the children a year ago.
The parents, named locally as Tania and Gary Clarence, were "a very, very lovely couple", the neighbour said, adding: "I saw them all the time about with their children."
She said the father worked in the City and the mother was a full-time carer for her children.
They moved into the house after it underwent a "massive" refurbishment, including the installation of a lift.
"They are very nice people and very, very decent. She is such a lovely person -- her life revolves around the children," the neighbour said.
She said the family had a nanny and help from carers.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident."
The woman is in custody at a south London police station. The force has given no cause of death but post-mortem examinations will be carried out in due course.
Officers were standing on the doorstep of the address this morning (Wednesday).
Scenes-of-crime officers were earlier seen leaving the property in Thetford Road, carrying evidence bags.
Ethel Winstanley, who lives opposite the couple, said she met the family last summer and congratulated them on the "transformation" of the house after its refurbishment.
"The man was called Gary, that is all I know. We went across to say 'Congratulations, you have made the street look wonderful'."
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she met the couple a fortnight ago at a barbecue in the neighbourhood.
"They were very friendly. He played golf and he had been playing golf that morning.
"He was going to America for a golf championship, to watch.
"We were out last night dancing and when we came home there were police cars and ambulances outside."
Retired nurse and health visitor Joy Devis, 86, said she knew the family and had been in the house "once or twice".
Mrs Devis said the news of the deaths was a "huge surprise and shock".
"They are a delightful couple, they seemed to be very happy," she said.
"Their children were super, lovely children. They were very happy, there was a very nice atmosphere there."
Mrs Devis, who suffers from arthritis, said the couple had shown her the lift they installed in their home.
She said the family had help from a nanny and a maid.
Police said they were trying to speak to members of the extended family to find out what happened.
Two teddies, bouquets, pot plants and a child's skipping rope were laid on the driveway of the house by a police officer.
Investec Bank, where Mr Clarence works as the director of investment banking for healthcare, said in a statement that the firm's thoughts are with him.
It said: "Gary Clarence is a valued colleague and has worked with us for many years.
"We do not know the facts at this time but our thoughts are with the Clarence family.
"We are doing all that we can to help Gary and his eldest child and ask that their privacy is respected."
Investec is an international banking and asset management firm which provides financial products and services mainly based in the UK, South Africa, and Australia.
According to the company's website, Mr Clarence leads a team of five corporate broking specialists who advise clients on buying and selling companies, raising money and strategic reviews.
Mr Clarence qualified as a solicitor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and practised law before moving into the world of business and finance, according to the website.
He completed an MBA at the acclaimed Netherlands Business School, based at Nijenrode University -- the only private university in the Netherlands -- and joined Investec in 1999.
He spent a couple of years working in corporate finance for the firm and was based in their US office for 18 months, before returning to the UK, where he has specialised in the healthcare sector since 2004.
Sapa
The 43-year-old woman was held after the bodies of a girl aged four and two boys aged three were found in a large semi-detached house in New Malden, south London, on Tuesday night, the UK-based Press Association reported.
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths of the youngsters, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
Scotland Yard said the woman was taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries before being discharged and arrested.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, said the three younger children who lived at the house were suffering from genetic disorders --believed to be life-limiting -- but an elder child, thought to be around seven or eight years old, was in good health.
She said the family, originally from South Africa, were "really, really lovely people" who moved into the suburb of New Malden with the children a year ago.
The parents, named locally as Tania and Gary Clarence, were "a very, very lovely couple", the neighbour said, adding: "I saw them all the time about with their children."
She said the father worked in the City and the mother was a full-time carer for her children.
They moved into the house after it underwent a "massive" refurbishment, including the installation of a lift.
"They are very nice people and very, very decent. She is such a lovely person -- her life revolves around the children," the neighbour said.
She said the family had a nanny and help from carers.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident."
The woman is in custody at a south London police station. The force has given no cause of death but post-mortem examinations will be carried out in due course.
Officers were standing on the doorstep of the address this morning (Wednesday).
Scenes-of-crime officers were earlier seen leaving the property in Thetford Road, carrying evidence bags.
Ethel Winstanley, who lives opposite the couple, said she met the family last summer and congratulated them on the "transformation" of the house after its refurbishment.
"The man was called Gary, that is all I know. We went across to say 'Congratulations, you have made the street look wonderful'."
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she met the couple a fortnight ago at a barbecue in the neighbourhood.
"They were very friendly. He played golf and he had been playing golf that morning.
"He was going to America for a golf championship, to watch.
"We were out last night dancing and when we came home there were police cars and ambulances outside."
Retired nurse and health visitor Joy Devis, 86, said she knew the family and had been in the house "once or twice".
Mrs Devis said the news of the deaths was a "huge surprise and shock".
"They are a delightful couple, they seemed to be very happy," she said.
"Their children were super, lovely children. They were very happy, there was a very nice atmosphere there."
Mrs Devis, who suffers from arthritis, said the couple had shown her the lift they installed in their home.
She said the family had help from a nanny and a maid.
Police said they were trying to speak to members of the extended family to find out what happened.
Two teddies, bouquets, pot plants and a child's skipping rope were laid on the driveway of the house by a police officer.
Investec Bank, where Mr Clarence works as the director of investment banking for healthcare, said in a statement that the firm's thoughts are with him.
It said: "Gary Clarence is a valued colleague and has worked with us for many years.
"We do not know the facts at this time but our thoughts are with the Clarence family.
"We are doing all that we can to help Gary and his eldest child and ask that their privacy is respected."
Investec is an international banking and asset management firm which provides financial products and services mainly based in the UK, South Africa, and Australia.
According to the company's website, Mr Clarence leads a team of five corporate broking specialists who advise clients on buying and selling companies, raising money and strategic reviews.
Mr Clarence qualified as a solicitor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and practised law before moving into the world of business and finance, according to the website.
He completed an MBA at the acclaimed Netherlands Business School, based at Nijenrode University -- the only private university in the Netherlands -- and joined Investec in 1999.
He spent a couple of years working in corporate finance for the firm and was based in their US office for 18 months, before returning to the UK, where he has specialised in the healthcare sector since 2004.
Sapa
