KILLAMARSH HORROR: DAMIEN BENDALL SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDER AND RAPE OF PREGNANT PARTNER AND CHILDREN
| Red Rose Database
Killamarsh Rapist
In a chilling and devastating case that has shocked the community of Killamarsh, Damien Bendall was handed five life sentences in December 2022 for a series of horrific crimes that included the brutal murder of his pregnant partner, Terri Harris, along with her three children, and the rape of 11-year-old Lacey Harris. The incident unfolded in the early hours of September 18, 2021, within the confines of the family home on Chandos Crescent, a quiet street in Killamarsh, and the aftermath revealed a scene of unimaginable violence and depravity.
Derby Crown Court heard how Bendall, under the influence of cocaine, carried out a savage attack using a claw hammer, methodically bludgeoning each victim to death in different rooms of the house. The court was told that Terri Harris, who was in the early stages of pregnancy, was attacked first, followed by her children Lacey and John, and Connie Gent, a friend who was staying over during a sleepover. The severity of the injuries was staggering, with multiple fractures to the victims’ skulls and head injuries that indicated a level of violence that defied comprehension.
Prosecutor Louis Mably KC described the scene as “truly hideous,” emphasizing that Bendall’s actions appeared to be driven by a combination of drug use and a complete lack of remorse. He explained that Bendall had been taking cocaine at the time and had chosen to use the horrific weapon to inflict fatal injuries on each victim, one after the other. The court was told that Bendall moved through the house, attacking each victim in turn, and that Terri was in the early stages of pregnancy at the time of her murder.
Details emerged that Bendall had initially tried to conceal his actions by calling a taxi after the murders, claiming he had been “just chilling with the family,” and describing his night as “crazy” and “bit mad.” He then took John’s Xbox and left the house to exchange it for drugs in Sheffield, a callous act that underscored his depravity. Witnesses recounted how Bendall appeared unfazed by the enormity of his crimes, even as he was questioned by the taxi driver about his night, to which he responded with a nonchalant attitude.
On the morning following the murders, Bendall contacted his mother, claiming he had inflicted a self-inflicted stab wound. She subsequently alerted the police, who arrived at the scene to find a house turned into a scene of horror. Bendall used Connie’s phone to call emergency services, confessing to the killings and stating, “I have just killed four people.” During his arrest, Bendall was found with superficial injuries from self-inflicted stab wounds to his chest, which were not serious. Despite his claims of mental health issues and blackouts, police officers observed that he did not display genuine remorse and appeared more concerned with his own predicament.
Officers who entered the house described the scene as utterly shocking. PC Stubbs, the first officer to arrive, recounted the moment he discovered the bodies of John, Lacey, Terri, and Connie. The injuries were horrific: Terri’s body was found in the master bedroom with multiple blunt force injuries to her head and face, while Lacey was discovered on the bed, also with a fractured skull and head injuries, her nightdress pulled tightly around her neck, suggesting possible strangulation. Connie was found face down on the floor of a middle bedroom, her cause of death also attributed to head injuries. John was located in the bathroom, suffering from multiple blunt force traumas to his head.
Forensic examinations confirmed that Lacey had been assaulted in the living room before being moved to the master bedroom, where her body was found after she had been raped. The investigation revealed that Bendall had committed these acts in a premeditated manner, with evidence indicating he had planned the attack and subsequent actions meticulously. After the murders, Bendall’s behavior was described as cold and calculated, as he took steps to cover his tracks and procure drugs.
During police interviews, Bendall admitted to using a hammer and expressed a disturbing lack of remorse. He claimed to have suffered from a “mass on his brain” and blackouts, but his statements appeared to be more self-pitying than indicative of genuine mental illness. His comments about the crimes, including a remark that “the whole house is covered in claret,” and that he did not realize what he had done until he saw the aftermath, painted a picture of a man detached from the horror he had inflicted.
The court heard emotional victim impact statements from family members. Jason Bennett, father of John and Lacey, described the devastating loss of his children, stating, “The murder of my two children has destroyed me and taken my life away. I can’t kiss them and tell them I love them and now I have nothing to fight for. I used to be scared of dying, now I’m not scared at all. I just want the pain to end. John and Lacey were innocent, and I cannot understand why someone would take innocent lives.”
Terri Harris’s mother, Angela Smith, expressed her profound grief, saying, “Some days I question the meaning of my existence. I struggle to explain to my elderly parents what happened. The only person who can explain it is Bendall. Terri was my only child, and I will never have another child or grandchild. No mother should have to bury her daughter and grandchildren. Terri was a lovely, bubbly person, and we had so many more adventures ahead of us.” She also reflected on her grandchildren’s childhood fears, recalling how Lacey and John once told her they were scared of monsters, a stark contrast to the monsters they faced in real life.
Finally, Connie Gent’s father, Charles Gent, shared his grief, stating, “The murder of my daughter has torn my life apart. I feel lost and overwhelmed by pain and stress. The crime was totally senseless, and there is no justification for the brutality Bendall used. The man who carried out these crimes can only be described as ‘truly evil’.”
Justice Mr. Nigel Sweeney KC, in delivering the sentence, emphasized the severity of Bendall’s actions, stating that he believed the defendant should be kept in prison for the rest of his life. This marked one of the last sentences he would impose before his retirement, and it reflected the court’s recognition of the heinous nature of the crimes committed in Killamarsh that night.
Derby Crown Court heard how Bendall, under the influence of cocaine, carried out a savage attack using a claw hammer, methodically bludgeoning each victim to death in different rooms of the house. The court was told that Terri Harris, who was in the early stages of pregnancy, was attacked first, followed by her children Lacey and John, and Connie Gent, a friend who was staying over during a sleepover. The severity of the injuries was staggering, with multiple fractures to the victims’ skulls and head injuries that indicated a level of violence that defied comprehension.
Prosecutor Louis Mably KC described the scene as “truly hideous,” emphasizing that Bendall’s actions appeared to be driven by a combination of drug use and a complete lack of remorse. He explained that Bendall had been taking cocaine at the time and had chosen to use the horrific weapon to inflict fatal injuries on each victim, one after the other. The court was told that Bendall moved through the house, attacking each victim in turn, and that Terri was in the early stages of pregnancy at the time of her murder.
Details emerged that Bendall had initially tried to conceal his actions by calling a taxi after the murders, claiming he had been “just chilling with the family,” and describing his night as “crazy” and “bit mad.” He then took John’s Xbox and left the house to exchange it for drugs in Sheffield, a callous act that underscored his depravity. Witnesses recounted how Bendall appeared unfazed by the enormity of his crimes, even as he was questioned by the taxi driver about his night, to which he responded with a nonchalant attitude.
On the morning following the murders, Bendall contacted his mother, claiming he had inflicted a self-inflicted stab wound. She subsequently alerted the police, who arrived at the scene to find a house turned into a scene of horror. Bendall used Connie’s phone to call emergency services, confessing to the killings and stating, “I have just killed four people.” During his arrest, Bendall was found with superficial injuries from self-inflicted stab wounds to his chest, which were not serious. Despite his claims of mental health issues and blackouts, police officers observed that he did not display genuine remorse and appeared more concerned with his own predicament.
Officers who entered the house described the scene as utterly shocking. PC Stubbs, the first officer to arrive, recounted the moment he discovered the bodies of John, Lacey, Terri, and Connie. The injuries were horrific: Terri’s body was found in the master bedroom with multiple blunt force injuries to her head and face, while Lacey was discovered on the bed, also with a fractured skull and head injuries, her nightdress pulled tightly around her neck, suggesting possible strangulation. Connie was found face down on the floor of a middle bedroom, her cause of death also attributed to head injuries. John was located in the bathroom, suffering from multiple blunt force traumas to his head.
Forensic examinations confirmed that Lacey had been assaulted in the living room before being moved to the master bedroom, where her body was found after she had been raped. The investigation revealed that Bendall had committed these acts in a premeditated manner, with evidence indicating he had planned the attack and subsequent actions meticulously. After the murders, Bendall’s behavior was described as cold and calculated, as he took steps to cover his tracks and procure drugs.
During police interviews, Bendall admitted to using a hammer and expressed a disturbing lack of remorse. He claimed to have suffered from a “mass on his brain” and blackouts, but his statements appeared to be more self-pitying than indicative of genuine mental illness. His comments about the crimes, including a remark that “the whole house is covered in claret,” and that he did not realize what he had done until he saw the aftermath, painted a picture of a man detached from the horror he had inflicted.
The court heard emotional victim impact statements from family members. Jason Bennett, father of John and Lacey, described the devastating loss of his children, stating, “The murder of my two children has destroyed me and taken my life away. I can’t kiss them and tell them I love them and now I have nothing to fight for. I used to be scared of dying, now I’m not scared at all. I just want the pain to end. John and Lacey were innocent, and I cannot understand why someone would take innocent lives.”
Terri Harris’s mother, Angela Smith, expressed her profound grief, saying, “Some days I question the meaning of my existence. I struggle to explain to my elderly parents what happened. The only person who can explain it is Bendall. Terri was my only child, and I will never have another child or grandchild. No mother should have to bury her daughter and grandchildren. Terri was a lovely, bubbly person, and we had so many more adventures ahead of us.” She also reflected on her grandchildren’s childhood fears, recalling how Lacey and John once told her they were scared of monsters, a stark contrast to the monsters they faced in real life.
Finally, Connie Gent’s father, Charles Gent, shared his grief, stating, “The murder of my daughter has torn my life apart. I feel lost and overwhelmed by pain and stress. The crime was totally senseless, and there is no justification for the brutality Bendall used. The man who carried out these crimes can only be described as ‘truly evil’.”
Justice Mr. Nigel Sweeney KC, in delivering the sentence, emphasized the severity of Bendall’s actions, stating that he believed the defendant should be kept in prison for the rest of his life. This marked one of the last sentences he would impose before his retirement, and it reflected the court’s recognition of the heinous nature of the crimes committed in Killamarsh that night.