According to evidence presented at an inquest, two young boys were found strangled at the same house where their mother’s body was also recovered.
On March 9, police broke into Nadja de Jager’s home in Belvedere, southeast London, and found the 47-year-old woman with her two kids, Maximus, 7, and Alexander, 9.
After worries about their welfare, they were discovered deceased at the location at around 11.50 am.
Post-mortem examinations revealed the boys’ provisional cause of death as ligature compression to the neck while their mother’s provisional cause of death was given as suspension- a medical term which includes hanging.
Detective Inspector Oliver Stride said both boys were found in an upstairs bedroom of the property on Mayfield Road.
He added: ‘Maximus was on the bed while Alexander was lying on the floor next to the bed.
‘The provisional cause of death for both of them was given as ligature compression to the neck pending further investigation.
‘Nadja’s provisional cause of death was given as suspension.’
He added that the boys’ father, whose name was not given, identified the boys’ bodies.
Alexander and Maximus were ‘model pupils’ and ‘each other’s best friend’, their school said at the time.
In a tribute, a spokesperson for Belvedere Infant and Junior School said: ‘Alex and Max were truly wonderful members of our school community and we will remember them with great fondness and love.
‘They were loving and caring boys who had a real hunger to learn.
‘Both were model pupils and it was clear that they were each other’s best friend.
‘They will be hugely missed by pupils and staff alike, and forever be part of our hearts at Belvedere.’
Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.
An inquest into all three deaths was opened and adjourned during a five-minute hearing at Croydon Coroner’s Court on this morning.
Senior coroner for South London, Sarah Ormond-Walshe, told the hearing: ‘There is a police investigation in relation to all three deaths. The proceedings in this case are essentially adjourned.’
It is likely to conclude in six months.
Once that has happened it will be decided whether a full inquest needs to take place.