Cause of death of mother and children in Great Denham confirmed

A mother and her two children died as a result of blunt force trauma, a forensic post-mortem examination has found.

A 45-year-old man has been charged with the murders of a woman and her two young daughters after their bodies were discovered at a property following concerns for their welfare.

Police found 42-year-old Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, her 15-year-old daughter Natalie, and five-year-old Nala after relatives and friends raised the alarm when the family had not been seen for several days.

A murder investigation was launched on Tuesday, 7 July. Three days later, on Friday, 10 July, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised three charges of murder against Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who is also known as Mark.

Tshuma was arrested the same day by authorities in Johannesburg, South Africa. He appeared before Johannesburg Magistrates' Court on Monday and was remanded in custody while legal proceedings continue.

Detective Inspector Lee Martin, the senior investigating officer, said the case had attracted significant media attention both in the UK and internationally.

He said: "This case has attracted a huge amount of media coverage and we are aware of international reports circulating which contain some speculation about this case.

"With three murder charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, proceedings around this case remain active and we are not able to provide any further detail at this stage. We continue to work with the CPS and international partners as the case progresses."

Police have not released any further information while the investigation and extradition process continue.