Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Man bludgeoned wife and kids to death

Maurice McLeod
Monday 24 July 2000 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A man is believed to have bludgeoned his wife and four children to death in their £250,000 home before killing himself.

A man is believed to have bludgeoned his wife and four children to death in their £250,000 home before killing himself.

Police officers found the six bodies in the house in an affluent suburb of Barry, South Wales, last night after friends and family raised concerns that they had not been seen for 11 days.

The family were named as Catherine and Robert Mochrie and their four children, James, 18, Sian, 16, Luke 14, and 10-year-old Bethan.

Today, as officers who made the grim discovery were offered counselling, stunned friends of the children visited the house to pay tribute.

Three of Sian's friends, Rachel Ford, Claire Harries and Laura Currie, all 16, were crying and holding hands as they visited the scene.

Police said that five of the bodies in the house had been subjected to blunt force injuries and the sixth, only identified as a man, was an apparent suicide.

Detectives refused to comment on suggestions that Mr Mochrie, who was in the hotel business, killed his family then himself.

Detective Superintendent Kevin O'Neill, who is in charge of the investigation, told reporters at the scene: "There are indications of violence.

"Family and friends were concerned because they had not seen the family for some time. After initial investigations we gained entry and found a horrific scene.

"It was by all accounts a dreadful scene and we are offering counselling to officers."

He added that the bodies were found in a number of different places in the house.

The family had lived at the house for around 18 years

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in