Two young children who died alongside their mother were strangled, inquest hears
An inquest into the death of Anju Ashok and her two young children confirmed the trio had been strangled.
![Nurse Anju Asok, 35, and her two children Jeeva Saju, 6, and Janvi Saju, 4, all died from asphyxiation](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SEC_137951676-9cdb.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
Two young children who died alongside their mum were strangled to death, an inquest heard.
Jeeva Saju, 6, and Janvi Saju, 4, both died after being found with serious injuries at their home in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on December 15 last year.
Their mum, 35-year-old NHS nurse Anju Ashok, was also found seriously injured at the scene.
The trio were rushed to hospital but succumbed to their injuries and died a short time later.
A forensic post-mortem examination at Leicester Royal Infirmary initially concluded all three victims died of asphyxiation.
But at the start of the inquest into their deaths, a coroner said the medical cause of death for the children had been listed as strangulation, while Ms Ashok had died of asphyxia.
At the hearing at Northampton Coroner’s Court, Anne Pember, senior coroner for Northamptonshire, said: ‘I now open the inquest touching upon the death of Anju Ashok, who died at Petherton Court, Kettering, on December 15 last year.
![FILE PICTURE - Police officers at the scene of the murders at Petherton Court, Kettering. December 16, 2022. A six-year-old boy and his four-year-old sister were strangled to death before their mum was suffocated in a triple murder, an inquest heard. See SWNS story SWLSmurders. Anju Asok, 35, was killed alongside her son Jeeva Saju and daughter Janvi Saju at their home in Kettering, Northants., last month. Police and paramedics scrambled to their groundfloor flat in Petherton Court at 11.15am on December 15. Anju, a nurse, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the children were rushed to Kettering General Hospital where they later died. An inquest into their deaths was opened today (Thurs) at Northampton Coroner???s Court. The brief hearing confirmed Anju???s cause of death as asphyxiation while Jeeva and Janvi were strangled.](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SEI_140028181-bc15.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
‘I have a provisional cause of death from Dr Hamilton as asphyxia, pending further tests. I adjourn this inquest until July 6 2023.’
During the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes, Mrs Pember confirmed the two children died at Kettering General Hospital and that their provisional causes of death had been noted as strangulation, pending further tests.
Saju Chelavalel, 52, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder on December 17, after the three victims were found at his address.
He appeared at Northampton Crown Court on December 21 and was remanded in custody until a plea hearing on March 24.
Following the arrest, senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Simon Barnes, said: ‘Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Anju, Jeeva and Janvi, who we are determined to seek justice for.
![Saju Chelavalel is led to a prison van after appearing at Wellingborough Magistrates' Court where he is charged with the murders of Anju Asok, 35, and her two children Jeeva Saju, six, and Janvi Saju, four. Picture date: Monday December 19, 2022. PA Photo. Northamptonshire Police arrested Mr Chelavalel, 52, after officers were called to his address in Petherton Court, Kettering, Northamptonshire, around 11am on December 15, where they found the mother and her two young children with serious injuries. They died a short time later. See PA story COURTS Kettering. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SEI_138101200-687d-e1673532465699.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
‘Incidents of this nature are incredibly distressing, and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who responded to the 999 call on Thursday, or has been involved with the subsequent investigation, for the professionalism and respect they have shown.
Deborah Needham, chief executive of Kettering General Hospital said in a statement: ‘Anju Asok was an internationally trained nurse who joined our KGH family in 2021 and predominantly worked on Barnwell B – one of our Orthopaedic wards.
‘She was a committed and compassionate staff nurse, who was loved and respected by her dear friends and colleagues.
Business manager Pierino Geranio, who runs his uncle’s barber shop near to the cul-de-sac where the incident happened, said: ‘You speak to people about it and they just can’t believe it.
‘I come here every day to work and you never expect anything like this – it’s so tragic. It’s totally terrible, beyond comprehension.’
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