A mother and her two daughters who were found dead at their home in Bedfordshire, England, earlier this month all died from head injuries, an inquest has heard.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, were discovered dead inside their family home in Great Denham in the early hours of July 7 after relatives raised concerns about their welfare.
At a hearing in Ampthill on Monday, Coroner Emma Whitting formally opened and adjourned the inquest into the three deaths.
The coroner heard that Nothabo died from head injuries, while both children died from blunt force head injuries, according to statements presented by coroner’s officers.
The court was told that a cousin contacted Bedfordshire Police on July 6 after becoming worried when she was unable to reach Nothabo, whom she usually spoke to every day.
Police inquiries revealed that the two girls had not attended school that day. After initial welfare checks at another associated address proved unsuccessful, officers went to the family’s home, where the three bodies were found.
The woman’s husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, who also goes by the name Mark, has been identified by police as the suspect in the case.
Authorities said he left the United Kingdom before being arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 10 on an unrelated firearms offence. Prosecutors in England have since authorised three murder charges against him.
South African courts will now determine whether he will be extradited to the UK to face the charges.
Meanwhile, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into police contact with the family before their deaths after receiving a mandatory referral from Bedfordshire Police. The watchdog also confirmed it had received a voluntary conduct referral involving a police officer.
The inquest has been adjourned to a date yet to be determined.
