Murder investigation after mother found dead with two children in Brent

 
Scene: police were called to the house at around 5.20pm on Thursday
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A mother is believed to have killed her two young children before committing suicide at her home in north west London.

The bodies of a seven-month-old baby boy and a five-year-old boy were found at the address in Woodgrange Close yesterday afternoon, along with that of a 33-year-old woman.

They were reportedly discovered by the woman's accountant husband when he returned home from work.

Police said the deaths of the two children are being treated as murder, but the woman's death is not considered suspicious.

Scotland Yard said officers were called to the address to reports of a woman and two children "with injuries" at around 5.20pm yesterday afternoon.

A spokesman for Brent council said they knew of the family, but declined to comment further.

Neighbours expressed their shock at what had happened and said arguing was often heard coming from the flat in Woodgrange Close.

Tashma Brown, 34, who lives next door, said the couple who lived at the address were Sakthivel Vageswaran and his wife Jeyavani Vageswaran.

She said: "She was a person you didn't see often. There was always shouting and arguing, three or four times in a month sometimes.

"Most of the time when they argued he would come outside to cool down."

Leslie Gotts, who has lived in Woodgrange Close for 18 years, said the family, who are believed to be of Sri Lankan origin, had lived in the first floor flat for about a year.

A neighbour had told him the children's father had found their bodies along with his wife's, he said.

Mr Gotts, 70, said: "I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. You freeze. It's a quiet road, a very mixed community.

"I think I only saw her once. She didn't look very unhappy to me."

A Met police spokesman said: "When officers arrived, the three were pronounced dead at the scene by medical staff."

The victim's next of kin have been informed, and a post-mortem investigation for her is due to be held this afternoon.

Details of further post-mortems are yet to be announced.

Police said they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.

Councillor Reg Colwill, who represents Kenton ward, said: "I think everybody is the same, they are shocked at what's happened. If it's accurate that the woman took her own life she must have been at her wits' end and didn't ask for help, or didn't get the help she asked for. It's two young children, it's very sad."

He said he will ask residents in the road if they want counselling.

For confidential support about issues involving suicide call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90.

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