A MOTHER went to collect her two young children from their father and found him in a bedroom lying next to their dead bodies.

Moronge Molemohi, a PhD student who had recently separated from the children's father, went to pick up her two-year-old son Theo and four-year-old daughter Yolande from his flat in Whalley Range, Manchester.

When she arrived at 8am on Wednesday, she found the 37-year-old dad in a bedroom alongside the two children, who were lying unconscious in bed.

The children were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead. Police believe Theo and Yolanda had been strangled and their father has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Detective Superintendent Geoff Wessell of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the couple were estranged. The children spent the weekend with their 37-year-old father and were due to be picked up by their mother on Wednesday morning.

The children's bodies were removed from the scene and they were pronounced dead a short time later at hospital.

Mr Wessell said: “They were found in a bedroom with the father there next to them. He lived at the address. His ex-partner recently moved out and had agreed to let the father look after the children for the weekend.

Traumatic

“She had gone back for clothes and let herself in and was confronted by this traumatic scene.”

Mr Wessell said detectives are not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The father lived in Lansbury House, a three-storey housing association block of flats on Whalley Road.

Mr Wessell said: “This was a traumatic incident for the family and the officers that attended. No other person is being sought in connection and that male arrested remains in custody and is due to be interviewed today.”

The detective revealed that after his arrest the children's father collapsed and was taken to hospital.

"This was a traumatic incident for the family and the officers that attended"

Detective Supt Geoff Wessell

He said Ms Molemohi was “extremely distressed” and is being comforted by specialist family liaison officers.

Post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out later on Wednesday.

Mr Wessell said he believed the family came from either South Africa or Zimbabwe, and they had lived in England for six years.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described seeing the father being led away from the flats in handcuffs on Wednesday morning.

Terrible

The 35-year-old woman said: “As I was leaving for work this morning, they were handcuffing him. He went calmly.”

She described hearing “terrible noises” before the arrest. The woman said: “I had the door open and I heard this noise. It sounded like a child gasping and I heard a noise of the most horrible moaning.

“I've never heard a noise like it. It sounded like an animal.”

She said the children, who played with her daughter, were “nice kids”.

Dad arrested after two children found dead

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