Robert Mochrie

Case record: Robert Mochrie

Status and legal outcome

Robert Mochrie unlawfully killed his family at their home in Barry, near Cardiff, and was found hanged.

Timeline

• July 2000 — South Wales Police discovered the bodies of 49-year-old Robert Mochrie, his wife Catherine, 45, and their children Bethan, 10, Luke, 14, Sian, 16, and 18-year-old James at their home in Barry, near Cardiff, after friends and relatives raised the alarm and officers forced their way in through an upstairs window; the children and Catherine had been bludgeoned to death and Robert Mochrie was found hanging by a rope on the landing.
• Sunday evening (time given as 2030BST) — Officers were called to the home in Rutland Close after the family had not been seen for 11 days; five of the people inside the house had been subjected to a violent attack; officers described the scene they were met with as "horrific".
• 19 July — The last sightings of the family were reported to have been on this date, four days before the bodies were discovered.
• July 24, 2000 — A major investigation was underway after the deaths; Detectives described the scene as "horrific" and said they were offering counselling to officers.
• July 25, 2000 — Detectives continued to investigate Robert Mochrie’s financial affairs and confirmed that there was no clear motive that had emerged.
• July 27, 2000 — A school attended by three of the four children killed in the family massacre opened its doors to offer counselling to the community.
• August 4, 2000 — A funeral took place for Catherine Mochrie and her four children, while Robert Mochrie was cremated separately.
• March 26, 2001 — A two-day inquest was called by a coroner investigating the deaths of a family of six whose bodies were found in their south Wales home.
• Wednesday, 25 April, 2001 — The inquest heard evidence including that Catherine Mochrie had conducted a clandestine affair and testimony about a text message received by a close male friend and subsequent discovery of the bodies.
• April (inquest hearing set aside for two days in April, with the announcement made on Monday) — Cardiff and Vale Coroner Dr Laurence Addicott announced that he set aside two days in April for the inquest to decide on the exact cause of death.
• April 26, 2001 — Cardiff and Vale Coroner Dr Lawrence Addicott recorded a verdict that 45-year-old businessman Robert Mochrie unlawfully killed his family at their home in Barry, near Cardiff, last summer.

The offence

Catherine Mochrie, 45, and their children—Bethan, 10, Luke, 14, Sian, 16, and 18-year-old James—were found with injuries consistent with a violent attack described as bludgeoning and battering. Robert Mochrie, 49, was found hanged.

A blunt instrument was described as having been used to inflict some of the injuries, and the bodies were found in a number of different places in the house.

Police suspected that Robert Mochrie murdered his wife and children before taking his own life.

Investigation

South Wales Police investigated the deaths of six family members.

Detective Superintendent Kevin O’Neill, who was leading the investigation, described the scene as "horrific" and said they were offering counselling to officers.

Police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the killings.

Officers examined the family’s financial background, relationships, and the couple’s marriage to look for clues. Detectives also investigated Robert Mochrie’s financial affairs, including the closure and attempted sale of hotels connected to him.

Forensic teams carried out a search of the house and detectives set up an incident room at nearby Barry Police Station.

Graham Anthony was described as stating that investigations were continuing and that they were still exploring various avenues.

Arrest

No arrest was described.

Discovery of the bodies and entry to the home

Friends and relatives raised the alarm after the family had not been seen for 11 days.

Officers forced their way into the family’s home in Barry, near Cardiff, through an upstairs window and discovered the bodies of the six family members.

Debbie Zeraschi discovered the bodies after she noticed post building up; she used a ladder to climb up to an upstairs window where one of the children could be seen lying dead in bed. Police were called and the other family members were discovered.

Inquest testimony also described the bodies being discovered after post had built up inside the house, with a ladder used to access an upstairs window.

The family car, their pet dog and cat were also reported as trying to be established.

People involved

Robert Mochrie

Robert Mochrie was 49 years old. He was described as a hotelier and businessman, and as a one-time civil servant who had turned businesses into a successful nightclub. He was found hanged after the deaths of his wife and children. At the inquest, Cardiff and Vale Coroner Dr Laurence Addicott recorded a verdict of unlawful killing relating to Catherine Mochrie and her four children, with Robert Mochrie believed to have killed himself.

His body was found hanging by a rope on the landing.

Catherine Mochrie

Catherine Mochrie was 45. She was identified as Robert Mochrie’s wife and the mother of the children found dead with her. She was described as having been violently attacked and battered to death.

Children

Bethan Mochrie was 10 and was physically disabled. She was a pupil at a special school. Luke Mochrie was 14. Sian Mochrie was 16. James Mochrie was 18.

All four children were pupils at St Richard Gwyn Roman Catholic School, with the inquest and news reports describing the three eldest children as pupils and Bethan as a pupil at a special school.

Other individuals mentioned

Detective Superintendent Kevin O’Neill

Detective Superintendent Kevin O’Neill led the investigation into the deaths and was reported to have said the scene was "horrific" and that they were offering counselling to officers. He also said no clear motive had emerged and that it was "probable" they would never know what happened.

Mike Clinch

Mike Clinch was headteacher at St Richard Gwyn Roman Catholic School. He described the family as "very active and supportive" of the school and said Mrs Mochrie was secretary of the PTA. He also said the school wanted to provide help for anyone who needed counselling.

Terry Holmes

Terry Holmes was described as Mrs Mochrie’s brother and as a former Wales and British Lions rugby star. At a news conference, Holmes delivered a statement.

Roger Cruttenden

Roger Cruttenden was described as a former business partner of Robert Mochrie. He said Robert Mochrie "absolutely worshipped" his four children and described reasons he gave for leaving a civil service career.

Father Patrick O’Gorman

Father Patrick O’Gorman was described as making remarks at the funeral service.

Debbie Zeraschi

Debbie Zeraschi was identified as Mrs Mochrie’s best friend and as having discovered the bodies after noticing post building up and climbing to an upstairs window. She also gave remarks to the congregation.

David Osbourne

David Osbourne was described as a former business associate of Robert Mochrie and as a manager of one of his business ventures at the Pembroke House Hotel. At the inquest, Osbourne testified about a sexual relationship with Mrs Mochrie.

Paul Wyatt

Paul Wyatt was described as arranging to meet Mrs Mochrie for "coffee and squash games". He received a text message from her that day.

Dr Laurence Addicott

Cardiff and Vale Coroner Dr Laurence Addicott announced a two-day inquest in April and set aside two days for it to decide on the exact cause of death. He later recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on Catherine Mochrie and her four children.

Dr Brian Harris

Dr Brian Harris was a consultant psychiatrist who told the inquest that Robert Mochrie had suicidal and severe depressive tendencies for up to 10 years, faced financial problems, and had been visiting a prostitute.

Detective Inspector Paul Bethell

Detective Inspector Paul Bethell was described as stating that it had emerged Robert Mochrie had been visiting Charmaine Jacobs after the deaths.

Charmaine Jacobs

Charmaine Jacobs was described as the person Robert Mochrie was visiting.

Verbatim statements and quotations

Detective Superintendent Kevin O’Neill said:

"It was by all accounts a dreadful scene and we are offering counselling to officers."

Holmes delivered a statement as read out at a news conference:

"Our family have been completely devastated by the loss of my sister and her family. I simply do not know how to begin putting into words how we are feeling. "We are supporting each other as best we can through this terrible time and as you can understand we obviously need time to grieve."

Former business partner Roger Cruttenden said:

"absolutely worshipped"
(This phrase appears in the report as a quote; the quoted content was: "absolutely worshipped".)

Mike Clinch said:

"The family were very active and supportive of the school. Both parents always came together to parents evenings and Mrs Mochrie was secretary of our PTA. "Robert was softly spoken but always asked the questions you would expect from a caring parent. "They were a very strong Catholic family. There was never any hint of anything sinister behind the scenes. "The children were genuinely nice kids from a very normal, caring family."

Maggie Richards said:

"We hadn't seen them around but we thought they had gone away on holiday. "They were fine and didn't appear to have any problems,"

Father Patrick O’Gorman said:

"death in cruel and tragic way had visited our community. "We are trying to come to terms with enormity of the tragedy that lies on our doorstep. "Sometimes life confronts us with things we cannot explain. Tonight we stand before the inexplicable; tender, raw and to some degree broken, unable to adequately put into words what we would like to express,"

Debbie Zeraschi told the congregation:

"There doesn't seem to be any words to explain the beauty of Cath. "She was a peace-maker who hated arguing. "She had very strong principles and always fought for the right cause."

Parish priest Father Patrick O’Gorman also said:

"sheer madness"

Dr Laurence Addicott recorded that the verdict was unlawful killing on Catherine Mochrie and her four children, with Robert Mochrie believed to have killed himself (verbatim wording of the belief was included in the report narrative rather than as a separate direct quote).

Paul Wyatt said:

"He (Robert Mochrie) never indicated that he knew about the relationship,"
Paul Wyatt also said: "There doesn't seem to be any words to explain the beauty of Cath."
(These lines are present as quotes in the source narrative; the report includes them in different contexts. The direct quote provided as Wyatt’s includes the parenthetical about Robert Mochrie and the relationship.)

Paul Wyatt told the hearing:

"I thought at the time it was strange she had sent a message rather than call."

Paul Wyatt also said:

"She was a very devoted mother and family woman. On one occasion she mentioned that she and her husband had had a tiff over a letter from the bank,"
"But she never mentioned they had any financial problems."
"We met for an hour and she seemed quite happy and jovial,"
"She was looking forward to doing things with the children in the school holidays."

A mobile phone text message quoted at the inquest said:

"I have been trying to get hold of you during the day. Battery dead, will phone later."

Sentencing

No sentencing was described; Robert Mochrie died by hanging.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

South Wales Police continued to investigate the deaths and repeatedly stated that no clear motive had emerged, and that it was probable they would never know what happened.

At the inquest, Cardiff and Vale Coroner Dr Laurence Addicott recorded a verdict that 45-year-old businessman Robert Mochrie unlawfully killed his family at their home in Barry, near Cardiff.

Robert Mochrie died by hanging the same day.

Aftermath

A school attended by three of the four children killed in the family massacre opened its doors to offer counselling to the community. More than 450 people gathered for a service in memory of the six members of the Mochrie family found dead at their south Wales home.

Hundreds of schoolfriends hugged one another during a tearful service at St Helen’s Roman Catholic Church, Barry. The service was organised by St Richard Gwyn High School, with counselling and prayer meetings arranged.

At the funeral, more than 400 friends, family and neighbours attended the funeral of Catherine Mochrie and her four children at St Helen’s Church in Barry. Mrs Mochrie and her children were buried together, while Robert Mochrie was cremated separately.

The report stated that police were still investigating the mystery of what turned the father into a killer and that police investigations were still continuing.

The inquest was described as exploring the circumstances surrounding the deaths, with evidence including pathology reports for all six members of the family and evidence from family members in written statements.