Funeral of ‘perfect family’ murdered by father

Mourners yesterday attended Rawdon Crematorium in the city for a service for Clair Smith, 36, and her sons Ben, nine, and Aaron, 13 months.

All three were found alongside their father, Richard Smith, 37, at their detached home in Pudsey on Sunday, December 11.

Detectives believe the father, a football coach in junior football, killed his wife and children and then set fire to the house, which led to his own death from smoke inhalation. It remains a mystery why he did it.

Through heavy rain and strong winds, the coffins of Clair, Ben and Aaron were brought to the crematorium in Leeds in two hearses, followed by a car for family and friends.

The first black hearse held a traditional wooden coffin for Clair, followed by the second with two small white coffins, a tiny one for baby Aaron and a bigger one for Ben, on top of which was a football made of flowers in tribute to the soccer-mad youngster.

The cars slowly pulled down a winding drive to the crematorium for a private service.

After the hour-long service, mourners young and old, dressed in black and wrapped up to brave the windy day, left the crematorium, many arm-in-arm to support each other.

The service was led by the Rev Debora Marschner and included music by Julio Iglesias and Careless Whisper by George Michael.

The family had asked for the cremation to remain a private and family orientated ceremony.

A murder inquiry was launched after police said the family were found dead together on a double bed in the fire-damaged main bedroom of their home in Sheridan Way, Pudsey.

Last month Leeds coroner David Hinchliff confirmed that Aaron had died from a stab wound to the neck, which severed his carotid artery and jugular vein.

Mr Hinchliff said Ben died from suffocation due to the obstruction of his airway and smoke inhalation, while police said he had also been stabbed.

Mrs Smith died from a stab wound to the chest and “external compression to the neck” and the coroner said Richard Smith died from smoke inhalation.

Detective Superintendent Paul Taylor, of West Yorkshire Police, said Ben’s unopened advent calendar was one clue to when the killings happened.

He said the family was last seen at 11pm on the Friday night, when they left a function held at the Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club by taxi.

Police have questioned people who were at the cricket club party but have confirmed there had been no reports of any unusual incidents at the function, Mr Taylor said.

The family was found dead after concerned neighbours called at the house on the Sunday afternoon and alerted the police who arrived soon afterwards.

Mrs Smith’s parents, Alan and Norma Robinson, released a statement about their daughter which said: “Clair was an exceptional person, loving and caring to everyone. She was a loving mum, her children were her life, and everything centred around her family and home.

“She was our daughter and our best pal. We cannot imagine what caused this tragedy.”

After the deaths were discovered, relatives described the Smiths as a “perfect family”.

Friends said Richard Smith worked for a shopfitting firm as a designer and was a coach for a local football club. They said the family appeared to have no problems and could not understand what had happened.

Police are still probing the circumstances in the hope of discovering what triggered the murders.