A man accused of the Killarsh murders was also accused of raping a girl | UK news

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A man accused of killing a mother and three children was also charged with raping one of the 11-year-old victims.

Damien Bendal, 31, is now alleged to have raped and murdered Lacey Bennett. He was previously charged with the murders of her and her brother, John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother, Terry Harris, 35, and Lacy’s friend, Connie Gent, 11.

The victims were discovered at a home in Killarsh, near Sheffield, on September 19. The murder charges allege that Bendal killed all four in one day between Friday 17 September and Monday 20 September.

Bendal was due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday for a hearing, but he failed to appear and the case was adjourned to 4 January in Derby’s Crown Court.

A Chesterfield Magistrate’s Court investigation had previously heard that the four had died as a result of a “violent attack”. A Derbyshire Police spokesman said the provisional cause of death for the four victims had been identified as “extreme trauma”.

The forensic court also heard how a relative of Bendal called the police to say that the defendant had been stabbed.

In a statement, the Public Prosecution Service said: “The Royal Prosecution Service has allowed another charge to be charged against Damien Bendal, 31, after reviewing an evidence file from Derbyshire Police. He has now been charged with the rape of a girl under the age of 13.

“The additional charge was confirmed today in court at a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court. Everyone is reminded that criminal proceedings against the accused are active and that he has a right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commenting or sharing of information online that could harm these actions in any way.”

Family members said Connie was sleeping at her best friend Lacey’s house when they were killed.

Jason Bennett, father of John Paul and Lacey, said shortly after their deaths: “Life will never be the same again. Families have been left devastated by the heavy loss of John, Lacey, Terry, and Connie.”

John Paul described him as “loving, fiery, funny and passionate, with the most beautiful, caring heart you could find” and said Lacey is “the tik tok queen who makes dance after dance”.

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