Hinckley deaths: Two-minute silences for dead brothers

  • Published
David Stokes and his sons Adam and MatthewImage source, Facebook
Image caption,
Adam Stokes, 11, and his brother Matthew Stokes, 5, were found dead during a search of the home

Two children who were found dead at their Leicestershire home along with their father have been remembered with two-minute silences.

Youngsters from Hinckley Rugby Football Club and Hinckley AFC remembered their fellow players Adam Stokes, 11, and his brother Matthew, 5.

Police found the boys dead at the house in Hinckley early on Wednesday after being called to a disturbance.

Their father David Stokes, 43, was found dead from a stab wound.

The children's mother, Sally Stokes, was injured at the house in Welwyn Road and taken to hospital.

A minute's silence was also held for the family at St Mary's Church in Hinckley.

Image source, Stokes family
Image caption,
Matthew Stokes played for a Hinckley AFC junior team, which held a minute's silence ahead of their game on Sunday morning
Image source, Stokes family
Image caption,
Adam Stokes played for Hinckley Rugby Football Club, which held a minute's silence before their training

Richard Spalding, whose son was close friends with Adam, said he "spent hours on the touchline often talking and playing with Matthew" as he watched his big brother play rugby.

Mr Spalding has set up a £5,000 fundraising campaign, for a memorial for the community, with any remaining funds will be used to assist the family.

"Our son feels a hole in his life and wishes to do something positive to help fill it in memory of the boys," he said.

Police said the boys' causes of death have not yet been "conclusively ascertained".

Image caption,
Tributes to the boys have been tied to the branches of a tree at St Peter's Church in Hinckley
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Police were called to the home in Welwyn Road on Tuesday night, and the boys' bodies were found on Wednesday morning

The rugby club said Adam was "a pleasure to teach the game of rugby" and would be "greatly missed".

"He was very well mannered, polite and a fantastic team player," it said in a statement.

"All our thoughts are with Adam's family and close friends as they struggle to come to terms with this tragedy."

Image caption,
The boys went to St Mary's primary school

Officers called to the house initially found Mr Stokes, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The children's bodies were then found during a search.