Kids "lost everything" when dad killed their mother (Papakura, New Zealand)

Dad CARY GRANG THURGOOD is in custody for murdering the mother of their four children.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/papakura-courier/2890921/Children-have-lost-everything-with-dad-on-murder-charge

Children ‘have lost everything’ with dad on murder charge
By KAREN MANGNALL - Papakura Courier
Last updated 05:00 23/09/2009

The death of Papakura woman Leanne Kingston has left her four children without either of their parents because their dad Cary Grant Thurgood is the man in custody accused of her murder.

A court order suppressing publication of Thurgood’s identity lapsed when the 43-year-old Manurewa chef reappeared in the Papakura District Court last Wednesday.

Thurgood denied the charge of murdering his ex-partner in her Cargill St home last month.

He also pleaded not guilty to charges of intentionally damaging Ms Kingston’s car and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ms Kingston, a triplet, was found dead in the house on August 10 by one of her sisters checking why she’d failed to pick up her daughter from school.

Police say a post-mortem confirmed the 39-year-old had been violently attacked.

After the hearing, Nicole Berriman, one of the triplets, told the Papakura Courier "a part of me has gone" with her sister Leanne’s death.

Ms Kingston’s children aged 19, 16, 14 and eight have been completely "thrown by the whole thing".

"They’ve lost everything," Mrs Berriman says.

All four are getting counselling and the aim now is "to get the kids back into a routine".

"They’ve gone back to school and the teachers have been very understanding."

Mrs Berriman says the family hopes to set up a trust fund for the four children.

For the moment they’re being looked after by their grandparents.

"My mum’s taken on a huge toll but she just loves those children."

Thurgood is due back in court on October 8 for a committal hearing in preparation for a trial in the High Court at Auckland.

A second man is also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the inquiry into Ms Kingston’s murder.