Dad Who Killed Kids Stabbed Himself In Chest

A cavalryman thought to have stabbed his two children to death before killing himself died from stab wounds to the chest, a post-mortem examination has revealed.

The bodies of Michael Pedersen, 51, of Chertsey, Surrey, Ben Pedersen, seven, and six-year-old Freya Pedersen were found on a bridleway in Newton Stacey, near Andover on Sunday.

Post-mortems on the two children, from Ashford in Middlesex, will be carried out later.

It emerged on Tuesday that Mr Pedersen wrote on Facebook on August 31 that he had split from his second wife, Erica, 43, with whom he ran a haulage business called High Road Logistics.

He wrote: "Worst day of my life. Sadly have split with Erica am absolutely distraught.

"Yes a few problems in every day life none insurmountable, can't believe I am supposed to have pushed her at the weekend - too untrue for words.

"Still lover her very much and would give anything to turn the clock back and try to make things different - footnote, both parties need to give their all to make the wonderful institution of marriage work (and sometimes more).

"Inappropriate behaviour is not required... love the partner you are with completely. Sorry everyone."

Then on September 1, he added: "Question. Why is it that when you ask someone who is hiding something, why they acted as they did they maintain they were 'drunk', yet when something dreadful happens they maintain they weren't and try to assassinate your good name instead?"

Mr Pedersen was a member of the Household Cavalry unit hit by an IRA nail bomb in Hyde Park in 1982 as it was taking part in a changing of the guard ceremony.

Four soldiers and seven horses were killed in the attack, which left Mr Pedersen's horse Sefton seriously injured.

Hampshire Police were alerted at 6.15pm on Sunday by a member of the public who discovered the children's bodies behind a Saab 900SE convertible car.

No-one else is being sought in connection with the deaths, police said.

Surrey Police said they had had "previous contact" with the Pedersen family and would be referring this contact to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for review.

The mother of the two children had alerted Surrey Police at 7pm on Sunday after Mr Pedersen failed to return with them at the agreed time of 5pm.