Funeral for smothered 'angels'

The mother of two sisters murdered by their father wept at a funeral service for her "angels".

David Cass smothered Ellie, three, and Isobelle Cass, 14 months, in the caravan where he lived in the grounds of a garage in Southampton, Hampshire.

Cass, 33, an MoT tester, then hanged himself in Paynes Road Car Sales garage in Shirley after making a phone call to family telling them what he had done and that he loved them.

He also left a message for the toddlers' mum Kerrie Hughes saying Isobelle and Ellie had "gone to sleep forever".

Two small coffins, red with yellow lining for Ellie and pink with purple lining for Isobelle, were taken to the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Eastleigh by a carriage drawn by two white horses.

On top of the glass-sided carriage were flowers spelling Princess for Ellie and Angel for Isobelle.

Father Michael Dennehy, who led the service, said: "It is said that the price we pay for loving someone who has been tragically taken away from us is the deep pain of grief.

"I have no doubt that our two little angels Ellie and Isobelle are safe together in God's company in that special place prepared for them in heaven."

Miss Hughes attended the funeral of Mr Cass at Christ Church in Freemantle, Southampton on Wednesday.

She described him as "a loving dad" but said she could not forgive him for his actions.

Cass had been caring for the youngsters for the first time after an acrimonious split with Miss Hughes about four months before.

Police found the children's bodies as well as that of Mr Cass, following a 999 call shortly before 7pm on Sunday, September 21.

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