GRAVESEND: Bluestone neighbour tells how Jessica came screaming for help during attacks

A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl cried "I don't want daddy to kill mummy" the night her policeman father battered her mother and two brothers to death, an inquest heard.

Gravesend Coroner's Court heard how Jessica Bluestone ran for help when her father, PC Karl Bluestone, went beserk with a claw hammer, three days after finding out his wife was leaving him.

Neighbour Ernest Lane told the inquest he was watching television with his wife when the young girl appeared at their back door looking "terrified and hysterical" about 9pm on August 28.

When he went next door, the curtains were drawn but he could see a torchlight move in the garage.

He said: "I found it worrying there was no noise and called the police straightaway."

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Murray said officers arriving at the scene were left traumatised by what they found. Three-year-old Henry was at the foot of the stairs with blood flowing from his head and 18-month-old Chandler was in his cot with serious head injuries. They both died at Darent Valley Hospital later that evening.

Seven-year-old Jack was lying in the bottom bunk upstairs in a foetal position and there was blood all over the wall while Jill, 31, had collapsed in a seating position next to a cupboard in the kitchen.

After turning his home in Marling Way, Gravesend, into a bloodbath, Bluestone, 36, hanged himself in the garage with rope he had bought in Meopham earlier that day.

Det Chief Insp Murray said: "There were at least 13 blows to Jill's head.

"Judging by the two types of head injuries, it seems Karl hit Jill first with the claw end of the hammer and then went back and hit her with the ball point end and left her for dead."

The two surviving children are Jack, who is still being treated for minor head injuries in hospital and Jessica, who escaped with "superficial injuries". They are now being cared for by family friends.

Gravesend Coroner's Court heard how Karl and Jill had a stormy, violent marriage. They both had had affairs and ran up debts of between £25,000 and £28,000.

North West Kent Coroner Roger Hatch said: "On August 25, it was made clear to Karl the marriage was over and Jill was moving to Essex.

"While it cannot explain the tragedy, it perhaps gives an insight into the mind of Karl when the deaths took place."

He recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on Jill, Henry and Chandler and a suicide verdict on Karl Bluestone.

November 12, 2001 12:57