Kettering: Man charged with murders of NHS nurse and her two children
18 December 2022, 08:23
A man has been charged with the murders of an NHS nurse and her two children in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Saju Chelavalel, 52, was arrested after officers were called to his address in Petherton Court on Thursday and found Anju Asok, 35, Jeeva Saju, six, and Janvi Saju, four, with serious injuries.
Ms Asok died at the scene despite treatment from paramedics, and her two young children passed away in hospital.
Post-mortem examinations concluded that all three of them died as a result of asphyxiation.
Mr Chelavalel will appear at Northampton Magistrates' Court tomorrow.
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Deborah Needham, chief executive of Kettering general hospital where Ms Asok was a staff nurse, said: “Anju Asok was an internationally trained nurse who joined our KGH family in 2021 and predominantly worked on Barnwell B – one of our orthopaedic wards.
She said Ms Asok was a "committed and compassionate staff nurse, who was loved and respected by her dear friends and colleagues".
"All our thoughts are with her friends and family as they come to terms with this sudden loss," she added.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Simon Barnes, said: "Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Anju, Jeeva and Janvi, who we are determined to seek justice for.
"Incidents of this nature are incredibly distressing, and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who responded to the 999 call on Thursday, or has been involved with the subsequent investigation, for the professionalism and respect they have shown.
"I also want to thank the local community as we know how upsetting it is for an incident of this nature to take place. We will continue to have members of our Neighbourhood Policing Team on patrol in the area and I urge anyone with any concerns to please speak to them."
