Life For Leeds Man Who Killed His Family

6 November 2013, 17:28 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A four-year-old girl was left for at least 12 hours in a house with the bodies of her mum and sister after her ''jealous and controlling'' father killed them in an ''appalling'' axe and knife attack in Leeds, a court has heard.

John Miller, 38, left his partner, deputy headteacher Sarah Laycock, 31, and their eight-year-old daughter Abigail with terrible injuries at their home in Garforth.

Leeds Crown Court heard how the couple's four-year-old daughter, Amelia, was in the house as cannabis abuser Miller carried out the murders during a psychotic episode and how she then spent at least 12 hours by herself before police discovered the terrible scene.

The court heard that the youngster has been left so terrified of her dad she now asks relatives ''what is the size of the padlock on daddy's door?''

Miller denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

He was given a life sentence by Mr Justice Coulson, who told him he must serve a minimum of 15 years.