BREAKING NEWS Teenager, 18, appears in court charged with murdering his mother and his brother and sister By Andrew Levy and Freya Barnes Published: 11:19, 16 September 2024 | Updated: 11:36, 16 September 2024 e-mail A teenager accused of murdering his mother and two siblings appeared in court today as emotional family members filled the public gallery. Nicholas Prosper, 18, was arrested on Friday after police raced to a block of flats in Luton, Bedfordshire, following reports of shots being fired. The bodies of his mother Juliana, 48, brother Kyle, 16, and sister Giselle, 13, were found in one of the flats.
The defendant, who was wearing a prison-issue grey jumper and tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the brief appearance at Luton Magistrates Court. He has also been charged with a number of other offences related to the murder. Police have stated a firearm was found during a search of the area.
Nicholas Prosper, 18, was arrested on Friday after police raced to a block of flats in Luton, Bedfordshire, following reports of shots being fired Juliana Prosper (pictured), 48, was found dead alongside Kyle Prosper, 16, and Giselle Prosper, in a flat in Luton at around 5.30am on Friday Deputy District Judge Robert Borwick said: 'Nicholas Prosper, the offences with which you are charged have to go to crown court. 'Your case will be sent to Luton Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on September 18, 2024.
Read More BREAKING NEWS Pictured: Mother and the son charged with murdering her and his two siblings after shooting in Luton flat 'I have no power to consider bail, so you are remanded in custody until that day.' As Prosper was led to the cells, a man believed to be Prosper's father stood up in the public area and said: 'I still love you son. I know it's not your fault, okay?' Police found the three bodies when they arrived at the 15-storey Leabank Tower at 5.
30am on Friday. The defendant was detained nearby shortly afterwards. Neighbours described hearing loud 'bangs', with one saying: 'I thought it was a car backfiring.
I didn't realise until later that someone had been shot.' 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.' The Prosper family were said to be regular visitors to a local church and Kyle attended a Catholic school in the area. Mrs Prosper worked at a local Sainsbury's and was described as having a 'heart of gold'.
Prosper (pictured) spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the brief appearance at Luton Magistrates Court Juliana Prosper, 48, was found dead with Kyle Prosper, 16, and Giselle Prosper, in a block of flats in Luton at around 5.30am on Friday Bedfordshire Police officers stand guard at a cordon outside the property in Leabank, Luton Police officers at the scene in Leabank, Luton, Bedfordshire, on the day of the alleged murders A colleague, who gave his name as Lewis, 24, said: 'She was just the loveliest person. She had a heart of gold.
She would speak so highly of her kids.' A friend of Mrs Prosper's added she 'lived for her children' and was a 'positive person who will be so terribly missed'. A schoolfriend of Kyle's, who didn't want to give her name, described him as a 'quiet boy' who never caused trouble.
Cardinal Newman Catholic School said the incident was 'devastating' and offered 'heartfelt condolences' to the family. In a statement, it said: '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.' Tributes were also paid to Giselle, who was described as a 'beautiful soul' and a 'model pupil' at Lea Manor High School. Headteacher Jess Panther said: 'She excelled in all her subjects and will be sorely missed, particularly by her friends in Year 9.
' Large numbers of police raced to the area, which has several large residential blocks, after the alert was raised last week. Officers were seen flying a drone over a section of the nearby River Lea, while a team of forensics officers established a cordon around the street. Floral tributes and messages were left at the entrance to the block of flats in Luton One friend described Juliana as 'a positive person who will be so terribly missed' Detective Superintendent Rob Hall, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said at the time: 'Following the discovery of three bodies.
.. we immediately dispatched a large 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.' Floral tributes left outside the tower block included one that said: 'No words.
Just hurt. May you RIP. We will never forget you.
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