Court Reveals New Details in Tragic Family De-a-ths as Investigators Continue Piecing Together the Final Hours
A MUM and her two children were found dead with head injuries after desperate calls by their concerned family.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were found dead by cops in a house in Great Denham, near Bedford, on July 7.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her daughters Natalie and Nala were found dead at their home in Great DenhamCredit: PA
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who also goes by the name Mark, appeared in a South African court accused of illegally possessing firearmsCredit: Reuters
The husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, is suspected of their murder.
He fled the country and was arrested in South Africa earlier this month.
Prosecutors in the UK have authorised murder charges against him.
An inquest has now heard that all three victims died from head injuries.
Tributes were left outside the home on Carnoustie DriveCredit: PA
Cops discovered the three bodies at the property in the early hours of July 7Credit: PA
Coroner Emma Whitting opened and adjourned an inquest into their deaths at a hearing in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, today, July 28.
The mother died from “head injuries” and the children’s cause of death was given as “blunt force head injuries,” according to statements from the coroner’s officers.
Sam Silk, from the coroner’s office, told the inquest a cousin of Nothabo had contacted Bedfordshire Police on July 6 after they had become concerned for the family’s welfare.
The cousin told officers she usually spoke to the mother every day but had not heard from her for several days.
Inquiries revealed the children had not attended school that day and initial welfare checks carried out by the police at an associated address found it was unoccupied.
Cops then went to the £1.3million family home on Carnoustie Drive in the early hours of July 7 where the bodies were discovered.
The inquest has been adjourned to a date to be determined.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has started an investigation into the “contact” officers had with the mother and her children before their deaths.
Bedfordshire Police made a “mandatory referral” to the IOPC on July 7.
A spokesperson for the watchdog said: “We also received a voluntary conduct referral concerning a police constable on 8 July.”
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage who goes by the name of Mark, was arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 10 on an unlicenced firearms charge.
He later appeared in court accused of illegally possessing firearms.
Courts in South Africa will now determine whether a British extradition request meets the legal requirements to send him back to the UK.
Prosecutors in England have authorised the three murder charges.
