A mother who was tragically killed alongside two of her children has been pictured for the first time today, as her third child is charged with their murders.
Juliana Prosper was found dead alongside her children Kyle, 16, and Giselle, 13, in a flat in the 15-storey Leabank Tower in Luton at 5.30am on Friday.
The 48-year-old mother, who worked at a local Sainsbury’s branch, was described as having a ‘heart of gold’.
Her 18-year-old son Nicholas was arrested on Friday morning in Bramingham Road and later charged with three counts of murder and a number of firearms offences.
The teenager, pictured for the first time today, has been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The family were said to be regular congregants of a local church and Kyle attended a Catholic school in the neighbourhood.
Neighbours reported hearing loud ‘bangs’ which they thought were sounds of a car backfiring but now fear were gun shots.
The BBC reported that the 18-year-old has been named locally as Mrs Prosper’s son and the brother of the child victims.
A close colleague of Mrs Prosper’s, who gave his name only as Lewis, 24, said he was struggling to comprehend the sudden loss of his friend. He worked in a team of two with her and said he saw her more than his friends and family.
‘She was just the loveliest person,’ he said, struggling to contain his emotions. ‘She had a heart of gold. She would speak so highly of her kids.’
Bola Udekunle, 35, was also among the mourners who came to leave flowers at the scene, with her 13-year-old daughter Ella, who was friends with Giselle from music classes.
Paying tribute to Giselle, Ms Udekunle said: ‘She was a very sweet girl. She was a very lovely girl. We are all so shocked.’
A friend of Kyle’s from school, who asked not to be named, remembered the 16-year-old as a ‘quiet boy’ who had never caused any trouble.
Reacting to the murder charges online, one woman wrote: ‘It is so heartbreaking – my son was a close friend of Kyle – he was a lovely, smiley, quiet boy.’
She continued: ‘It’s so hard to believe this has happened to him and his family.’
Another person posted: ‘My daughter has been in Kyle’s class throughout her school life – it’s so hard to believe. RIP Kyle, Juliana and Giselle.’
A friend of Juliana told Sky News that the mother ‘lived for her children’ and was ‘a positive person who will be so terribly missed’.
Tributes have also been paid to Giselle, who was described as a ‘beautiful soul’ and a ‘model pupil’ at Lea Manor High School.
The schoolgirl’s headteacher, Jess Panther, said: ‘We are deeply shocked at Lea Manor High School by the tragic incident that occurred on Friday in our local community and devastated by the loss of our pupil, Giselle Prosper.
‘Giselle was a beautiful soul and a model pupil, she excelled in all her subjects and will be sorely missed, particularly by her friends in Year 9.
‘Lea Manor High School will be open as usual on Monday and specialist bereavement counsellors will be available to provide additional support to our students and staff during this difficult time.
‘It will take us all time to process what has happened and our thoughts go out to everyone in our community and neighbouring schools who have been affected.’
Kyle Prosper’s school described the incident as ‘devastating’ and offered ‘heartfelt condolences’ to his family.
A statement issued by Cardinal Newman Catholic School said: ‘We are shocked by the tragic incident that occurred on Friday in our local community and deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own students, Kyle Prosper.
‘This is devastating news to all those who knew and loved Kyle and it will take some time to come to terms with the profound sense of loss.
‘We have already sent important information to parents and carers that outlines the support we have in place for students when they return to school on Monday.
‘We know this will be a difficult time for students and staff and we will do all we can to support them with love and compassion.
‘We extend our heartfelt condolences to Kyle’s family on their immeasurable loss, to his friends and to all those in neighbouring schools who are coming to terms with their own loss. We pray for all those who have died in this tragic incident.’
Floral tributes left outside the tower read: ‘No words. Just hurt. May you RIP. We will never forget you. God decided he has space and love for your all. My heart hurts. God bless until we meet again.’
Other tributes included ‘our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time’ and ‘always and forever in our hearts’.
Detective Superintendent Rob Hall, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said the force’s thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones.
‘Although formal identification has yet to take place, next of kin of those who we believe to have died have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers,’ he added.
‘We would ask that their privacy is respected at this unimaginably difficult time.
‘Following the discovery of the three bodies yesterday, we immediately dispatched a number of officers to the scene. Shortly afterwards they arrested an 18-year-old man, who has now been charged with three counts of murder, as well as a number of firearms offences.
‘I’d like to praise all of the officers involved in this investigation so far, especially those who were first at the scene and were met with such awful circumstances, and those who have worked round the clock to establish the details surrounding these tragic deaths.’
One resident, who asked not to be named, told : ‘I thought I heard some bangs, at about quarter to six. But I thought it was car backfiring.
‘I didn’t realise until later that someone had been shot.’
Police were seen flying a drone over a section of the nearby River Lea, while a team of forensics officers established a large cordon around the grassy Waulud’s Bank.
There was a large police presence outside the 15-storey Leabank Tower where the incident took place, one of several large residential blocks in the area.
Another horrified neighbour – a male nurse who has lived in the area for 22 years, added: ‘Everyone gets on here. But there is an undercurrent of bad behaviour.
‘I’m shocked. To hear somebody had a gun – never.
‘I walk here late at night and never had a problem, never felt unsafe.’