Video: Sad farewell for mum and her children killed by Leeds father

Mourners attended Rawdon Crematorium in Leeds for a service for Clair Smith, 36, and her sons, Ben, nine, and Aaron, one, who were found dead on Sunday December 11 alongside their father, Richard Smith, 37.

Today’s service was led by the Rev Debora Marschner and included readings from the Bible, music by Wham and Julio Iglesias and a prayer by William Penn.

The family 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, near Leeds.

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 Mr 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 at Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club by taxi.

Police were talking to people who were at the cricket club party but 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, followed soon afterwards by police officers.

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 Mr 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.