Inquest opens into deaths of father and three sons

Three young children sit on a cannon, with a bearded man in a cap holding onto the youngest. Image source, Surrey Police
Image caption,

The bodies of Piotr Swiderski (r) and his children - Nikodem, Dominik and Kacper - were found on 31 August

  • Published

The inquest into the deaths of three young children and their father in Staines has been opened and adjourned to a later date.

Dominik Swiderski, aged three, and his brothers Nikodem and Kacper, both aged two, were found dead in Staines on 31 August, along with their father Piotr Swiderski, 31.

The cause of death for the children is yet to be determined but is being treated as unnatural, the inquest at Surrey Coroner's Court in Woking heard.

Coroner Simon Wickens offered his condolences to the children's mother, Angelika Swiderska, who identified all the bodies.

Surrey Police are treating the children's deaths as murder and have previously said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

All four inquests have been suspended for three months pending further police investigation.

'Always smiling'

Mrs Swiderska has previously paid tribute to her family.

She said in a statement on 3 September: “Piotr was an amazing husband and father to Kacper, Nikodem and Dominik.

"He loved us with all his heart and would have done anything for us. The children doted on their daddy.

“Our boys were happy, active children, full of life and happiness. They were always smiling and even when I looked sad, they would say “Mummy smile like us”.

“We are grieving for them all and would like to ask for privacy as we try to understand why this tragedy happened."

Image source, Sonja Jessup/BBC
Image caption,

Floral tributes were left at the property iun Staines

Surrey Police had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in connection with the deaths.

The IOPC later said the previous contact had taken place in August 2023 and "related to concerns about a man's mental health".

It said an investigation into the contact would not take place as "there was no further police contact after this incident".

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