Murder Of Sian Blake: Suspect May Face Court

As the actress' partner is expected before a court in Ghana today, the Met responds to claims the probe was blighted by delays.

Sian Blake's Partner Detained

A man suspected of killing the former EastEnders actress Sian Blake and her two children is expected to be brought before a court in Ghana today.

Ms Blake's partner Arthur Simpson-Kent was arrested in Ghana on Saturday following the deaths of Ms Blake, 43, and the couple's two children Zachary, eight, and Amon, four.

Their bodies were discovered in the garden of the family home in Erith, Kent, last week - three weeks after they were reported missing. All three had died as a result of head and neck injuries.

Blake and her sons Zachary and Amon

British police are likely to use today's hearing to apply for Simpson-Kent to be remanded in custody while authorities prepare a formal extradition request.

The Met Police last week referred itself to the Independent Police Complains Commission over its handling of an initial missing person's inquiry, amid claims the probe was blighted by delays.

Ms Blake and her children were last seen in east London on 13 December, but the murder squad did not get involved until 4 January.

Simpson-Kent had spoken to police when they first disappeared, but then left the UK.

But speaking from Ghana's capital Accra, Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn said the inquiry was handled as "quickly" as possible.

"There are a number of ongoing investigations which I am not at liberty to comment on, from the start of the missing person's enquiry," he said.

Simpson-Kent was arrested in the coastal town of Busua. Pic: Sunday People

"But I am satisfied it was done as quickly as we could to have got here. There is nothing we or the Ghanaians could have done any quicker to get out here as quickly as we could."

He also thanked Ghanaian authorities for their assistance in bringing about Simpson-Kent's arrest.

"I want to pass on my thanks from myself and Scotland Yard and the UK authorities for all the work the Ghanaians have done for us in effecting an arrest," he said.

"The work they have done has been outstanding and I am truly, truly grateful. I cannot thank them enough for what they have done."

DCI Gwyn added: "We continue to work alongside the Ghanaian authorities and agencies in London to progress this investigation and are discussing the extradition process."

Around 10 armed officers descended on to a beach in the town of Busua in the west of Ghana where Simpson-Kent was spotted hiding between some rocks, according to reports.

Officers from the international crime-fighting agency Interpol were involved in the arrest alongside Ghanaian police.

Simpson-Kent in an older image

Pictures showed him handcuffed and sat on a stool with police at his side shortly after he was detained, and others of him being driven away in a vehicle.

He was later sat in front of cameras at a police station in Accra.

Ms Blake had motor neurone disease - a fatal, rapidly progressing illness which affects the brain and spinal cord - and had reportedly been frail before she disappeared.

She took on the role of soul singer Frankie in EastEnders in 1996. She was in 56 episodes.

She also appeared in episodes of The Bill, Casualty, Doctors and Skins.