Inside the house of horror where football coach ‘murdered’ wife and young sons

Detectives were last night trying to establish why Richard Smith, 37, chose to kill his wife Clair, 36, and their children Ben and Aaron, aged nine and one, in their West Yorkshire home.

The bodies of all four – described by a friend as a beautiful family – were found in a smoke-filled bedroom in the detached house they shared in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Pudsey area of Leeds.

Detectives believe one of the boys may have been stabbed, but a source last night said they were unable to tell for certain because the fire had caused so much damage.

Post-mortem examinations to determine how the Smiths died began last night as police investigated a range of theories about their final hours.

The investigation began at about 5.30pm on Sunday after police were called to the £180,000 house in Sheridan Way by a concerned relative.

Officers forced their way into the property and found the downstairs rooms tidy, but the upstairs was covered in soot from a slow-burning fire in the bedroom.

Police believe the bodies had not been there for long, but precise details of how and when they died will only come to light after the post-mortem examinations have been completed.

A police source said the inquiry would look into the possibility that Smith had taken drugs or alcohol, either before the killing began or to hasten his own death.

It is understood that officers found a mattress had been pushed against the bedroom window. Detectives are investigating whether this was done to prevent poisonous fumes from leaving the bedroom or to prevent witnesses seeing what was happening.

The house had been locked from the inside, prompting suspicions that the murders had been meticulously planned.

The police investigation was delayed on Sunday because of fears that the house could have been filled with poisonous gas, but scientists declared the scene safe after a few hours.

Speaking at the scene, Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor confirmed his officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Mr Taylor said his inquiry had been delayed because there was a suggestion of dangerous substances in the house, but this had turned out not to be the case.

“People in the area need not worry about that,” he said.

Mr Taylor said much of the overnight investigation was taken up with this issue.

“Enquiries are continuing today. I can confirm this is a murder investigation but at this stage we are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.”

It is understood that Smith was a shopfitting designer who worked for a firm that manufactures fire security doors. His wife is believed to have worked for a diesel company.

The family had only moved into the house in May after deciding they wanted a larger garden.

Simon Seary, volunteer co-ordinator at youth football club Pudsey Juniors AFC, confirmed that Smith was manager of the under-9 team but declined to say anything further.

Friends and neighbours spoke of their shock yesterday as they went to the Smiths’ home to lay flowers at the police cordon.

They said the Smiths had been the “perfect family”.

Family friend Sarah Wilson was in tears as she laid her bouquet.

She said: “I can’t imagine what’s made this happen, I really can’t. I just can’t believe it.

She went on: “They were just ordinary. I’m making that sound like a bad thing, and it’s not.”

She said she once held Aaron in her arms as her sister was a neighbour, and added: “Such beautiful little boys. Both of them.”

Ms Wilson continued: “They were just like anybody else. Just fine.

“There was just no inkling that anything like this would happen. Nothing.”

Family friend Sara Turnbull was in tears as she left flowers at the police cordon.

The message on her bouquet said: “You were such a beautiful family. All our love to you. We can’t believe you are all gone.”

Richard Lewis, one of Pudsey’s representatives on Leeds City Council, said: “Usually, these things are happening a comfortable distance away.

“It is a queer feeling when it happens locally, especially somewhere like Pudsey, which remains a place, not a suburb, so when you say an address, everybody knows where it is.

“It is especially shocking to have it happen at this time of year, when everybody else is putting all their worries to one side.

“The police have been good at trying to let people like me know what is going on, but I don’t think anybody has any explanations yet. We are all left waiting to hear what comes out in due course.”

Pudsey Conservative MP Stuart Andrew, who has been in frequent contact with police since he first heard about the tragedy on Sunday night, said the town had been left stunned by the deaths and he was shocked and saddened by what had happened.