Bodies of couple and their two children found dead

A MAN, a woman and two children, all thought to be members of the same family, have been found dead, police said.

The body of the man, 32, was found at Watermead Country Park, Leicestershire, on Friday evening.

Police said the bodies of a 24-year-old woman, a three-year-old boy, and a girl, aged two, were found at a property in Jersey Road, Leicester, on Saturday afternoon.

All are believed to have been members of the same family.

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: “Officers are not looking for anyone else at this time.”

The woman was named locally as Joy Small, her two-year-old daughter as Chanara, and son Aubarr, aged three.

Close friend Jennie Bland, 27, said she thought the man found at Watermead Park was Ms Small’s ex-partner and father of the two children.

She said the couple had split up after a troubled relationship, but Ms Bland said she fell out with her friend in November when she found out she had taken him back.

She said Ms Small, who was originally from Sheffield, kept it a secret amid fears her children would be taken from her if anyone knew they were back together.

“She got back with him after being so strong,” she said.

“We fell out because she got back with him. I couldn’t just sit back and let it happen, I should have just gone on my instincts and told the police and social services.”

Ms Bland described the man as an “abusive monster”.

“She got back with him after being so strong after he poured petrol on her and tried to set her alight.

“He beat her all the time, the time he poured petrol on her he threw a mirror at her son.

“He tried to stop her seeing her friends, that’s why he didn’t like me.”