'Brutal' murder of mum and two children to be marked with memorial service
The 10th anniversary of the shocking murders of a Northampton mother and her two young children will be marked with a special memorial service in the county later this year.
In one of the most brutal crimes ever committed in Northamptonshire, Claire Austin and her children Keiren and Jade were attacked and killed by Claire's husband, Philip, at their home in Stockmead Road, Standens Barn.
Claire, a home help carer, was found by her mother, Carol Quinn, on July 17, 2000, lying on the kitchen floor having been brutally beaten, stabbed with a kitchen knife and strangled.
Seven-year-old Jade and eight-year-old Keiren had been drugged and strangled in their bedrooms
Their pet dog, Dandy, was dead at Mrs Austin's side, his head having been crushed. The family's other poodle, Sooty, was also killed.
It is believed the family may have lain dead for a week after they were last seen alive on July 10.
On that date a decade on, a special memorial service will take place at St Michael and All Angels Church in Bugbrooke.
Mrs Quinn, aged 61, from Bugbrooke, said those who knew 31-year-old Claire or the children were welcome to attend.
She added: "We want as many people as possible to come along, including the children at Standens Barn Primary School who were friends with Keiren and Jade but who couldn't come to the funeral at the time.
"And the day after the memorial service, on the Sunday, we will be holding a charity fun day in Bugbrooke in their memory.
"There are probably a lot of people who couldn't come to the funeral 10 years ago and we want them to be able to remember Claire and the children."
A three-day manhunt for Philip Austin was launched following the murders, and after a search which covered the entire country, the killer was eventually found in a car in Cumbria having slit his wrists.
In court, he pleaded guilty to the slayings, and was sentenced to three life terms with a minimum of 20 years to serve.
Anyone who would either like to attend the memorial or get involved in the fun day can contact Mrs Quinn on Northampton 839069.
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