Ilford father admits killing his children during lockdown

Pavinya Nithiyakumar (left) and three-year-old Nigish Nithiyakumar died in April

A man has admitted killing his two children at their family home during lockdown.

Nadarajah Nithiyakumar attacked 19-month-old Pavinya and three-year-old Nigish with a knife in Ilford, east London, on 26 April.

The children's mother had been in the shower at the time and was the person who alerted police.

Nithiyakumar, 41, admitted two counts of manslaughter by diminished responsibility at the Old Bailey.

Emergency services were called to the home in Aldborough Road North where they found both children injured.

Pavinya was pronounced dead at the scene while Nigish was rushed to a hospital in Whitechapel where he later died.

The children were found fatally injured in the home in Aldborough Road North

Nithiyakumar was also treated for knife wounds and when he was discharged from hospital he was charged with killing his children.

The 41-year-old admitted to police he had killed his son and daughter, explaining that he had been depressed and customers had "upset him" while he was working in a shop.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC told the Old Bailey psychiatrists believed the defendant was "suffering from a delusional disorder" which had "led him to kill his children".

"It was one from which he had suffered for some time, for the best part of 10 years, with very little indication and very little treatment," he said.

Mr Atkinson added that one expert thought it was "remarkable he was able to function for as long as he did" considering his condition.

The court heard the defendant had no previous history of violence and prosecutors felt it was "appropriate to accept the plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility", Mr Atkinson said.

Mrs Justice Cutts adjourned sentencing until 10 December, saying she would need "further information from the doctors".

Nithiyakumar was sent back to the medium secure mental health centre in east London where he has been treated.

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