Arabnews24.ca:Monday 6 February 2023 01:27 PM: A woman whose sister and niece were brutally murdered and buried underneath a kitchen floor has told Sky News she can "forgive" their killer.
Shela Aquino, sister of Bennylyn Burke, says Andrew Innes must, however, face the consequences of his actions and spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The 52-year-old admitted killing Bennylyn Burke, 25, and toddler Jellica but denied murder and instead lodged a special defence of lacking criminal responsibility and diminished responsibility.
On Monday, judge Lord Beckett ruled there was insufficient evidence to support the defence and told the jury at Edinburgh High Court that they were "bound to find the accused guilty of murder".
He was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 36 years.
Innes admitted hitting Ms Burke on the head with a hammer. He then stabbed her with a samurai sword before repeatedly striking her with the handle of the blade and the hammer.
He also admitted asphyxiating Jellica before burying both bodies under the kitchen floor of his house in Dundee.
Ms Aquino told Sky News: "If God can forgive, then I can also forgive."
Ms Aquino, from the Philippines, spoke via a translator, adding: "He should be put in prison and pay for the crime that he did.
"I can forgive him as long as he's behind bars and will not be able to get out."
Ms Burke, who was originally from the Philippines before moving to Bristol a few years ago, met Innes via an online dating site.
Innes travelled to Bristol to meet Ms Burke in February 2021 before returning to Dundee the following day with both Ms Burke and Jellica for the weekend.
A few days after killing Ms Burke at his home, he then killed Jellica.
Ms Aquino described her sister as a "very good person" who is "very much missed by the family".
She added: "I cannot understand why it has happened and it's been very difficult for the whole family during these last two years understanding what happened and the loss."
Ms Aquino feels that if it has been "God's will", then the "family hopefully will be able to come through the grief and the loss".
She added: "With my faith in God I am able to cope and pray that I will be able to go through this painful and difficult thing."
Ms Aquino was informed of her sister's death by Ms Burke's ex-partner and Jellica's father, Lexington Burke, 65.
She said she "couldn't believe it" and "didn't know" how to explain it to her parents, who were living in another region.
Read more:
Double murder suspect 'apocalyptically angry' before hitting woman with a hammer
Andrew Innes told police officer: 'She's under the floor'
She claimed for weeks she struggled to sleep as she was in shock and "traumatised" over the deaths.
Ms Aquino attempted to contact her sister via Messenger because she "couldn't understand" and "couldn't accept" what she was told.
She admitted she still messages to this day and calls her sister's voicemail so she can hear her voice.
"I [watch] some of the videos I've saved and some of the films we put together as a family where we're all happy," she said.
Ms Aquino praised the sympathy and support her family has been shown and said she is "very grateful" that she has been able to attend the trial which she believes will help in her "healing process".
She said she will "never forget" her sister and niece because they're always with her - where she lives, where she sleeps.
Ms Aquino added: "I will always be with them."
