A MAN appears in court today charged with the murder of a mother and her two children in East London 28 years ago. He is Wilbert Anthony Dyce, 54, arrested at his home in Forest Gate, due before Westminster magistrates

By Mike Brooke

A MAN appears in court today (Saturday) charged with the murder of a mother and her two young daughters in East London 28 years ago.

He is 54-year-old Wilbert Anthony Dyce, arrested at his home in Romford Road, Forest Gate, who is due in custody before Westminster magistrates, Scotland Yard confirmed last night.

Dyce is charged with the murders of 27-year-old Norma Richards, seven-year-old Syretta Richards and nine-year-old Samantha Richards at their family home on the Kingsgate Estate in Shoreditch on July 17, 1982.

Detectives continue to appeal for information in the investigation and want anyone who believes they could help to contact the incident room on 020-7321 7228, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

Police were called on Monday morning, July 19, 1982, to reports that the bodies of Norma and her two daughters, Samantha and Syretta, had been discovered at their home. It is believed the three had been murdered during the early hours of July 17, a Saturday.

Cause of death for both Norma and Samantha was stab wounds to the chest. Syretta had been drowned.

Several people were interviewed by police at the time, but no-one was charged.

The 'cold' case was looked at again last April with new lines of inquiry, then passed on to Scotland Yard's Homicide & Serious Crime Command.

This led to the arrest in Forest Gate in October. Dyce was bailed pending further inquiries, then charged yesterday (Friday) with all three murders.