In the evening of 18 September 2021, Damien Bendall murdered his partner Terri Haris, her two children Lacey and John-Paul Bennet, as well as Lacey's friend Connie Gent at a residential property on Chandos Crescent in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, an outer suburb of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He had also raped Lacey as she was dying.[1] After being arrested the next morning, Bendall was charged with four counts of murder and later rape of a girl under 13 in connection with the incident.[2][3][4] He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to a whole-life prison term on 21 December 2022.[5]
Overview
Crime details
Based on phone evidence, it is estimated that the murder spree had occurred shortly after 21:42 local time on 18 September 2021. According to prosecutors, at that time, the children were preparing to go to bed while Bendall was trying to contact his drug dealer for cocaine.
Bendall had killed his pregnant partner Terri Harris, her children Lacey and John-Paul Bennett, as well as Lacey's friend Connie Gent, who was staying there for a sleepover, by striking them with a claw hammer over their heads. He had also raped Lacey as she was dying from her head injuries.
After committing the murders, Bendall ordered a taxi, and went to Sheffield to exchange John's Xbox for drugs.[6]
Bendall's arrest
Police officers from the Derbyshire Constabulary attended to reports of a disturbance at a residential property on Chandos Crescent, close to Killamarsh town centre, at 07:26 local time on 19 September 2021. Bendall had also called 999 himself, saying that he would need police and ambulance because he killed four people.
Arriving at the property at 07:39, officers found Bendall outside, with self-inflicted stab wounds on his chest and stomach from a bread knife. Bendall told the officers he knew he would 'be going to prison again', and when asked what he had done, calmly responded with 'I've murdered four people.'[7] The officers then entered the property where they located the remains of the victims. Subsequently, Bendall was arrested under the suspicion of murder.[8]
Legal proceedings
On 22 September 2021, Bendall was charged with four counts of murder and later rape of a girl under 13 in connection with the incident.[2][9][10]
On 20 September 2021, members of the community held a vigil in honor of the victims. Around 300 people attended including family members of the victims.[11][12]
Evaluation of probationary practices
Due to the fact that Bendall was on probation when he committed the murders, the HM Inspectorate of Probation conducted a Serious Further Offense review into the way the National Probational Service managed Bendall.[13] Both it and a separate coroner's report expressed concerns about the lack of child safeguarding and domestic abuse checks conducted by the Probational Service in this case and inexperienced staff within the Probational Service among other issues.[14]
Demolition
On 21 July 2023, the properties where the murders took place were demolished on the orders of North East Derbyshire District Council, this was preceded by consultations of the council with local community members, residents of the area, and relatives of the victims.[15][16]
