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David Cass with daughters Ellie and Isobelle Kerrie and David before their split with baby Ellie

'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

Friday 15 May 2009

When David Cass callously smothered his two daughters in a bitter act of revenge against their mother Kerrie Hughes, she was understandably left inconsolable.

She is so heartbroken, she can’t even bear to see the little girls she called her “princesses” to
say goodbye.

Monster David Cass, 32, suffocated Ellie, three, and Isobelle, 13 months, with a pillow, then called Kerrie to tell her: “The children have gone to sleep forever and now I’m going to hang myself.”

Heartbreakingly, the toddlers’ bodies were found lying side by side in bed inside David’s caravan. His body was discovered hanging from a girder in the garage where he worked.

As grieving Kerrie, 24, struggles to understand David’s twisted actions, incredibly, there is one woman who is standing by him – his mother, Lynda Cass, who clearly loves him unconditionally.

Shockingly, she can’t bring herself to blame her son, claiming a bitter custody battle between David and Kerrie drove him over the edge.

Widow Lynda, 57 – who refuses to be pictured – says: “The weekend it happened, Kerrie had told him it would be the last time he saw them. He loved those girls to death. They were the most important things in his life and he just couldn’t live without his children.

“I’m the first to admit that what David did was terrible, but he wasn’t a monster. He felt he didn’t have a choice. He thought he was never going to see his kids again. He felt he needed to take them with him.”

MOT tester David had split from Kerrie just three weeks before the tragedy. Kerrie was only 16 when they met and the couple had always had a stormy relationship.

“David took the split really badly, and was very depressed. He was so worried he would never see
his kids again,” says Lynda.

On Saturday 20 September, David collected Ellie – nicknamed the ginga ninja
for her ginger hair – and Isobelle from Kerrie’s house for a weekend visit.

He then took them round to see his mum Lynda at her house in Southampton. “I loved having the children round,” says Lynda. “I never saw the kids much when David was with Kerrie. We spent that afternoon watching TV and the girls played with their toys.”

“Ellie had the most infectious giggle, and would tell everyone that she loved them. Isobelle was just the sweetest baby and really loved her food.”

That evening, Lynda and David bathed the girls and then put them to bed.

“We went downstairs to watch telly and he seemed upset,” recalls Lynda. “He told me if Kerrie ever stopped him seeing the kids he would kill himself. I was shocked. I had never heard him talk like that before. He wasn’t one to wallow.

“He hated the way Kerrie said he could have access to the kids and then changed her mind at the last minute. That broke my heart. I tried to talk to him about it, but I didn’t take it that seriously. I didn’t think he’d ever harm himself or the children.”

On the Sunday morning, the children woke up and spent the morning drawing. David left the house with them at 2pm and Lynda assumed that he was taking them back to Kerrie.

“He just said he had to go and said goodbye. He seemed fine and wasn’t acting strangely in any way,” says Lynda.

At about 6.30pm that evening, Lynda received a frantic phone call from David. “He was sobbing and said the kids had gone to sleep,” she says. “I asked him if he’d dropped them round to Kerrie’s and when he said he hadn’t, I told him he must.

‘They’ve gone to sleep for ever, mum,’ he told me.“I knew then what he meant – even though it was so hard to believe.”

“He told me he loved me and I said, ‘I love you too,’” recalls Lynda. “I think the noose was around his neck and I begged him not to kill himself too. He hung up, and I think he must have
hung himself then.”

Seconds later, Kerrie called Lynda, telling her that David had called her and was saying the same things. “She was angry and shouting at me, and asking where the kids were,” says Lynda.

“He’d told her the kids had gone to sleep too. It all happened so quickly and suddenly, the police were banging on my door.

“I still can’t believe my grandchildren have gone,” adds Lynda. “I loved them so much, they were lovely children. It’s still sinking in. I just feel so shocked and everything is a bit of a blur.” 

Kerrie is so engulfed with grief that she can’t face formally identifying her girls’ bodies, or saying goodbye to them. But she has paid tribute to her beloved daughters.

She said: “Everybody who knew my babies knows just how beautiful they are, and that they are and always will be princesses in everybody’s eyes, especially mine.

“No matter what is going on or how busy your days are, tell your babies how much you love them and what they mean to you with a kiss and a hug, every day.”

Friends of Kerrie have branded David an “ogre” who dominated their relationship when they were together and treated Kerrie like a child.

“He was a lot older than her and liked to think he knew better,” reveals a Hughes family friend, who asked not to be named. “She was better off out of the relationship. He was mentally unstable.

“He took those kids away because that was the only way he could hurt her. He thought: ‘I can’t have you, so I’m going to destroy the most precious thing to you.

“He liked to think he was the doting dad,” adds thefriend. “But his rage for revenge overrode any love he had for those girls.

“What he did was pure evil – those girls were innocent and he cruelly took their lives.”

But incredibly, Lynda forgives her son. “He was dedicated to them and thought the girls were better off with him,” she says.

“It’s tragic – I’m a mum too, and I truly feel for Kerrie. And I miss David and my grandchildren everyday.”

By Victoria Raymond

Readers CommentsReaders Comments

Posted by charlotteadz

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

How the hell can you call your self a mother???????

If any of my children did that i would not be defending them as it is a act of a selfing man.

Hope he rots in hell!!!!!!!!!!

RIP little girls xxxxx

Posted 30/09/2008 10:53:31

Posted by JENLEIGH1

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

I cant imagion how it must feel for a man to be told he will never see his children again, And to feel they are loosin control but there is no right in what he did, none what so ever.
The girls were innocent in all of this and should have been left out of it.
so unfair and cant imagion what their mum is going through
xxxx

Posted 30/09/2008 12:14:45

Posted by nicki27

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

What a selfish man, i cant believe that someone would take their own childrens lives. RIP little girls. I feel sorry for the mother.

Posted 30/09/2008 13:36:16

Posted by AndiH

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

OMG you filthy monster! u are almost as bad as your animal son, how can you even begin to defend him taking two little baby girls lives? HIS little girls lives!

I do actually pity u if u think that what he did was acceptable, there would have been other ways around for him to see the children, murder was not the answer!

This story actually makes me sick, I've just had a little girl myself and I know for a fact my fiance would NEVER do anything like that! IT's absolutely crazy!

Filthy animal!

RIP, little sweet girls.
My heart bleeds for you Kerrie..

xxx

Posted 30/09/2008 13:38:04

Posted by kodi jones

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

I cant see the keyboard through the tears..
to kerrie and her family im lost for words at how someone can do this and how you have to live through the pain.
And to two precious girls who had their lives cut short we are all hopeful that heaven is a beautiful and wonderous place where you will be happy and meet your mother again.
Thinking of you all
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted 30/09/2008 18:39:55

Posted by jmb411

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

He did it out of spite not love - he took those babies' lives without a second thought because he knew it would hurt the girls' mother, nothing else. I would disown my son if he did that to two innocent children. Even now the grandmother is implying that the mother pushed him over the edge by saying he would never see the children again - what happened to Access through the courts? No he did it out of vicious spite and I too hope he rots in hell.

Posted 01/10/2008 09:35:32

Posted by laytoni

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

If he cared so much about his 'beloved' little girls; why would he be so cruel and take their lives? MURDER them. It's hard to think about without feeling both anger and sadness. I understand that Kerrie shouldn't have restricted the time he had with the girls, but at least he didn't do this. They were so innocent and he is a filthy monster. I doubt he's even with them now; they're in heaven, but he's rotting in hell (hopefully).

I feel for you Kerrie and I'm sorry for your losses. Keep them in your heart and when the time comes you'll be able to see them again.
With love, xxxxx

Posted 01/10/2008 12:25:27

Posted by skinnyfat

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

Hes a monster i carnt believe his own mum forgives him and he wonted to take them wiv him for them to be with him forever but now they have neither mum or dad because thier in heaven and hes ROTTING IN HELL i feel for you kerri stay srong for your sweet babies.
xxxx

Posted 01/10/2008 12:32:45

Posted by clarabella

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

I cant believe this evil spineless woman has forgiven her twisted son!
What he did was pure evil,he did it because his girlfriend Kerrie didn't want him anymore,and who could blame her,he was a horrible excuse for a man,i think she was brave to leave him,she obviously loved her babys that why she left the evil twisted monster.
Its not easy leaving a violent relasionship,believe me,its the hardest thing in the world,especially when kids are involved,but you find the strength,it is the bravest thing a woman can do!
But for his mum to defend his evil actions is disgusting,he did it to spite Kerrie,no other reasons,not because as his twisted mum says 'because he couldn't bear to be without them' he could have seen them regular with the help of a solicitor,even if Kerrie told him he couldn't.
He couldn't have kerrie anymore so he took away the most important things to her,her lovely babys.
His mother is as evil and twisted as he was,infact how can she call herself a mother!!
Rest in peace little ones,you can play forever with the angels.
My thoughts are with you Kerrie.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted 03/10/2008 09:27:16

Posted by thursty4

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

Its bad enough that this monster selfishly took the lives of his two children, but for his mother to try to justify his actions by saying that he was a doting father is sickening, and to think he actually beleaved his children were better off dead and with him just shows how much of a twisted person he was, them poor girls would have been better off without that monster and living a happy life, all my deepest sympathy goes to the mum of those two beautiful girls.

Posted 04/10/2008 21:33:40

Posted by KWalton

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

he was a coward, theres no other word, those little girls had a full life ahead of them, my heart goes out to the little girls who has suffered in this sad story, the innocent!

Posted 06/10/2008 13:28:02

Posted by _michelle_d_x

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

fare enougth what he did was crule, selfish and sly but think of it from his situation he must of been pretty dam deprest if thats what he did 4 those reasons - i dont comdone it but dont slag his mother of because she can see from his side thats just mean and pathetic having ago at a dead mans mum - think ppl should grow up tbh !! hope the mother of the kids are okay and its not your fault and i also hope the mother of the mans okay - she has every right to love her son !!! xxx

Posted 08/10/2008 22:05:44

Posted by mistery

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

noone anywhere at any point plans to do something like this to anyone they love, its quite clear this man was very depressed, most probably having a nervous breakdown and felt he had no other option, its easy from the outside to judge everyone but have any of you been in his body, no, well then you shouldnt judge someone you never knew and his mother has also lost a child so you should think of that before attacking her, shes lost a child too, just because that child was older doesnt make it any less painful, obviously by the time he mother knew anything was wrong it was too late so i dont think its fair having a go at her, she tried her best, as everyone did and have to continue doing.RIP daddy and his little girlsxxx

Posted 09/10/2008 16:32:22

Posted by AndiH

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

Oh my god! Are you guys being serious in actually defending this man and woman? Yes I understand that she has lost a child to, a pain I can't even think to bare but how can you's even try and understand murdering two little girls just because his partner didn't want to be with him anymore? There is no way you can defend him or his actions! There was so many other ways he could deal with it, counselling, therapy, get a frickin lawyer!! There is no way he wouldn't be allowed to his kids unless he had did something to them i.e. physical abuse. His mother is just trying to deal with the pain of losing a child, which I understand but how she can forgive him I don't know and honestly I think the people on this who defend him and her are sick also.. I'm quite sure that a few people would agree with me! Michelle D, has one person on here said she shouldn't love her son? A parents love is unconditional no matter what the child does! Sometimes they don't deserve it but that's just the way the world works. There is absolutely no defence for this man!

Posted 10/10/2008 08:34:27

Posted by _michelle_d_x

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

... fare enough his actions were harsh and ott but no one can tell a mother not to love there kids i think what he has done is horrific and yeah he shouldnt need defending but his mother is a differant person
!!! AndiH you obv dont c this from her point !!!!

Posted 10/10/2008 20:33:18

Posted by xSallyx

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

This man is selfish! He took away his childrens lives just because he was unhappy with the situation! He doesnt care about anyone elses feelings especially the girls mother, if he loved his kids that much he wouldnt have done it, how can his own mother forgive him???, she has just lost her other son and now hes evil enough to put her through that pain again, plus the pain of the loss of the children!
Hes sick - rot in hell!
Hope the kids RIP with the angels in heavenxxxxx

Posted 20/10/2008 12:08:05

Posted by AndiH

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

You're right Michelle, I don't see this from her point of view. I understand she is going to love her son unconditionally I've already said that, but, to act like he did the right thing is the part that is impossible to understand which is what I and a lot of others find sickening.
No-one has said she has not to love her son, forgiving him is obviously the only way that she can deal with the pain of losing him even if it isn't right. But, to be honest, I don't think it's the right thing.. That's my personal opinion, it's easy for us all to sit here and judge, it isn't our family and so we don't know how we would react.
I do still find it infuriating though, that she can defend him.

Posted 20/10/2008 12:31:07

Posted by thestar

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

You're a brave woman. May God rest the souls of those little girls.

Posted 26/10/2008 17:05:39

Posted by staceyk

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

I don't think i can brig myself to understanding this woman.... of course you are going to love your children no matter what... but forgiving them you don't. I feel sorry for the mother of these two little girls.... the mum of the son needs as much help as her son did to be publising this so frreely! Its disgusting.

Posted 29/10/2008 09:03:04

Posted by lilsieley

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

Posted 06/11/2008 00:03:08

Posted by alisha98

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

its absolutely sick what he has done, them poor little babies did nothing wrong and they had a whole life ahead of them and it was taken away by there own decietful dad how the hell can he even call himself and how the hell can he sleep at night thats a murderer sorry but i dont agree on it. i feel so sorry for kerie the mother she must be going through a hell of a lot at the minute. them little girls were gorgouse and may they rest in peace. as for the dad rot in hell you evil sick man i hope you get all what you deserve in prison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

r.i.p baby gurls. my deepest symothy from the bottom of my heart for kerriexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted 26/01/2009 12:02:03

Posted by EMMALOU

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

how did this sick vile selfish creature ever think he had the right to take these precious babies away form everyone who loved them? and take them so cruely? his mother and any one else who forgives him are almost as sick in the head as he was!! she needs professional help as did her son she obviously has some serious mental heath issues!!!! god bless the babies and there poor mum!! love emma xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted 13/02/2009 15:28:46

Posted by cheeky stacey

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

how the hell can u 4give sum1 4 that??
its nasty!!
RIP little girls x

Posted 24/04/2009 14:54:14

Posted by chica

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

i feel so sorry for kerri she so dosent deserve this that david is so cruel if he really loved kerri and the children he wouldent of courzed this to happen to kerri.as for the mother she should be hating her son for what he did but it seemed like she was supporting him all the way she is partly a murderer

Posted 20/08/2009 20:27:49

Posted by tixxylixxy

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

that woman messed up in the head , how could she forgive her son for that? those children had a rite to still be here today , it's a shame the 'dad' couldn't of been taken out of those little girls lives' as soon as they were born
i feel for kerri so much .
the mother of that monster should follow the same path as her son and hang herself , the world doesn't need people like that
RIP children

Posted 02/11/2009 05:03:35

Posted by pinklover122

RE: 'I forgive my son for killing my grandchildren'

RIP children that man was evil and shouldn't have hung himself he should have seen for at least a year what he had done if he really loved those kids then he should of been killed in a horrible way just like is children were. RIP CHILDREN xxx

Posted 09/01/2010 17:59:30



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