SHE has suffered the most unbearable loss but heartbroken mum Kerrie Hughes has vowed to be at the funeral of her former partner who smothered their children to death.

Kerrie will be among the congregation paying their final respects to 33-year-old David Cass at his funeral service being held in Southampton today.

Only close relatives and friends have been invited to the low-key ceremony which comes nearly three weeks after the bodies of 14- month-old Isobelle and threeyear- old Ellie were discovered.

Cass smothered his daughters in the caravan where he lived in the grounds of Paynes Road MoT Centre, Shirley, where he worked as an MoT tester.

He then phoned Kerrie on her mobile and told her that their daughters were “sleeping for ever” and that he would soon be too by killing himself. It was the first time he had cared for the girls after the couple split.

She phoned the police who discovered the girls’ bodies as well as that of Cass shortly before 7pm on Sunday, September 21.

Speaking ahead of today’s funeral service Kerrie said that despite the heartache she shared something very special with Mr Cass.

Kerrie reportedly said how she could never forgive Cass for what he had done but described him as an amazing father who made their eldest daughter’s face light up when he came home.

She added that the only way she could explain why Cass killed their daughters was that he could not be apart from the girls.

She also reportedly said that she could not reconcile the way he was such a loving dad with what he did.

Kerrie has given her story to a national newspaper although it is not clear if she sold it or if any money was given to charity.

A single weathered bouquet of flowers lay on the doorstep of the home in Fair Oak, where Kerrie had been living with her mum and gran. The house was deserted yesterday with the curtain drawn upstairs.

Kerrie reportedly said that she could not face being alone in the home she and Cass shared until their acrimonious split in August following a series of rows.

The family of Cass have described him as “a wonderful son and father of two darling angels” as well as a “loving brother and uncle”.

Dozens of people have also left floral bouquets, cards and messages of condolence at the Paynes Road MoT Centre where he worked.

Manager John Martin, 51, said: “We have lost a good colleague and a good mate.”

The children’s funerals will take place at noon on Friday at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Eastleigh.

Their burial service will take place afterwards at Ramalley Cemetery in Hursley Road, Chandler’s Ford.

  • See today's Daily Echo for the full story