Sian Blake murder: Arthur Simpson-Kent admits killing EastEnders actress and two children

Arthur Simpson-Kent has admitted to murdering former EastEnders Sian Blake and her two children before burying their bodies in the garden of their south-east London home. Simpson-Kent fled to Ghana after murdering Blake, 43, and her sons Zachary, eight, and Amon, four.

Appearing at the Old Bailey for a pre-trial hearing on 29 April, Simpson-Kent's lawyers informed the court their client intends to formally plead guilty to the charges of murder at trial in October.

Their bodies were found on 5 January, three weeks after they went missing on 13 December. Simpson-Kent fled the country after the trio were reported missing, sparking an international manhunt. The 48-year-old was eventually arrested in the coastal town of Takoradi in Ghana on 10 January before being extradited back to the UK.

Met Police is under investigation for the way it handled the missing persons inquiry, including why it took more than three weeks to find the bodies. The back garden of the family home house was only thoroughly searched in early January after murder squad detectives were called in.

Blake played soul singer Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997.