Boys aged 9 and 7 were found strangled at family home along with mother who died from suspension

Two young boys aged nine and seven were found strangled at their home and their mother was discovered dead ‘by suspension’ in the same property, an inquest has heard.

The bodies of Nadja de Jager, 47, and her sons Alexander, nine, and Maximus, seven, were discovered after police forced entry to their home in Belvedere, south-east London, on March 9.

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.

An inquest into all three deaths was opened and adjourned during a five-minute hearing at Croydon Coroner’s Court on Friday morning.

They were found dead at the scene at about 11.50am after concerns were raised about their welfare.

Detective Inspector Oliver Stride, of the Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime command, told the hearing 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.

In a tribute, a spokesperson for Belvedere Infant and Junior School said: ‘It is with great sadness that we can confirm that two of our pupils, Alexander and Maximus De Jager, died at home this week.

‘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.

‘Our deepest condolences are with the family and their friends during this difficult time.’

Detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation, the Metropolitan Police said at the time.

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. 

There was a heavy police presence outside the Belvedere property in the days that followed the tragic events.

The address was sealed off with police tape on March 10, with police vans and forensics services vehicles seen parked outside.

The driveway, which had a grey Mitsubishi pick-up truck parked on it, was scattered with children’s toys including a mini basketball net and multi-coloured sand toys.

Forensics teams were seen searching the vehicle. Three officers in blue hazmat suits examined the inside of the truck, while others carried bags of evidence out of the house and went through the bins.

Shocked neighbours spoke of their horror following the tragedy.

Marion Beazer, 69, who lived opposite the mum and her two sons, said as far as she could tell they were a ‘normal family’.

The pensioner, who has lived in the street 40 years, added: ‘They never caused any issues in the street.

‘As far as I’m aware they were just a normal family. They kept themselves to themselves.

‘The neighbours here really watch out for each other.

‘Seeing the kids toys out the front tugs on the heart strings. It’s just dreadful.’

Another neighbour, Christopher Babutulde, 68, who lived two doors down from the family, said he used to see the mum walking her two young sons to and from school.

He added: ‘It’s really shocking. We’re such a close knit community who really care for each other.

‘There’s been a big police presence since yesterday. I’ve had officers knocking on my door.’

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said the Nadja previously had a partner living at the property but that neighbours had not seen him around for a while.

He said: ‘They were Polish. My friend over the road said she hadn’t seen the husband for quite a while.

‘I used to see the grandmother wheeling the two kids around in a wheelchair.

‘And I used to see the family walking up to the park and the post office and would say hi. But they kept to themselves really.

‘Its awful. It’s just too close to home.’

Another neighbour, a 25-year-old woman who also asked not to be named, said Nadja’s husband had moved out of the house and hadn’t been seen in the area for a while.

She added: ‘My mum said her and her husband had broken up or something like that – they got a divorce.

‘He hasn’t been seen around here in a while.

‘But my 15-year-old sister came back from school through the park Friday and saw the little boy running to their house. The mum was walking behind him.

‘They seemed completely normal. They seemed happy.’

Speaking at the time of the investigation DI Stride said: ‘This is a deeply sad case and we are continuing to establish the circumstances that led to this tragic incident.

‘I would like to thank the local community for their cooperation while our officers go about their enquiries.

‘Our thoughts today are very much with the family as they struggle to come to terms with their loss and we ask that their privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time.’

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