A father has pleaded guilty to the murders of his wife and their two young children, but told a court “I don’t know what happened”.
Saju Chelavalel, 52, admitted the murders of NHS nurse Anju Ashok and their children, six-year-old Jeeva Saju and Janvi Saju, aged four, on Wednesday at Northampton Crown Court.
Forensic post-mortem examinations at Leicester Royal Infirmary found they had died as a result of asphyxiation last December.
Northants Police paid tribute to Ms Ashok, who they described as a “dedicated nurse, loving mother, and loyal friend”.
Officers characterised Chelavalel’s murdered children as “much-loved”, saying their presence would be “missed by everyone”.
Chelavalel admitted the offences during a 12-minute hearing at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday.
Assisted by an interpreter in the dock, Chelavalel answered “guilty” to two of the counts he faced, but in relation to the charge of murdering Jeeva he replied: “I don’t know what happened to the children, but I plead guilty.”
Adjourning the case until 3 July, Judge David Herbert KC said: “There can only be one sentence in law, namely a life sentence, but the judge dealing with your case on that day will have to set the appropriate minimum term.”
Northants Police arrested Chelavalel after officers were called to his address in Kettering on 15 December and found Ms Ashok, 35, Jeeva and Janvi with serious injuries. All three died a short time later.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Simon Barnes, said: “This was an absolutely tragic case and there are no words to articulate the devastation Saju Chelavalel caused when he chose to end the lives of Anju, Jeeva and Janvi.
“I am pleased that he has pleaded guilty and spared Anju’s family and friends the pain of a trial. He will have to live with what he has done forever and I hope one day, he truly comprehends the pain his actions have caused.
“Anju Asok will be remembered as so much more than this man’s victim. She was a dedicated nurse, loving mother, and loyal friend. My thoughts remain with her loved ones and will continue to do so long into the future.”
Jeeva and Janvi were pupils at Kettering Park Infant Academy. At the time of their murder, the school’s headteacher described them as “delightful and caring children who had many friends”.
On 16 March, two Northants Police officers and the family’s representative, Manoj Matthew, attended Kettering Park Infant Academy for a remembrance ceremony.
All of the children in Janvi and Jeeva’s classes were given a balloon, either pink, blue or silver, to represent the mother and her two children.
The children gathered outside and were joined by the rest of the school. The classmates then released their balloons into the air while “Somewhere over the Rainbow” played, before a poem was read and a minute’s silence was held.
DI Simon Barnes, the case’s family liaison officer, said of the event: “It was an honour to be invited to this ceremony and join the children in remembering Anju and their two classmates – Jeeva and Janvi. We were privileged to be shown their classrooms and spend some time with their teachers.
“We were handed a beautiful remembrance book, full of pictures and messages from the children’s classmates and all of the staff. This is now with the family in India.
“Whilst my team and I have a professional job to do, we are not immune to the personal impact such tragedies cause. The school did the family proud in what was a very touching tribute. All three were much-loved and will be missed by everyone.”
Ms Ashok was a staff nurse at Kettering General Hospital.
The hospital’s chief executive, Deborah Needham, said in a statement at the time of her murder: “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.”
