A MAN is due to appear at the Old Bailey today charged with the murder of a mother and her two young daughters nearly 30 years ago.

Wilbert Anthony Dyce, 54, of Romford Road, Forest Gate, is accused of stabbing to death Norma Richards, 27, and Samantha Richards, nine, and drowning Syretta Richards, seven, at their home on the Kingsgate Estate, off Southgate Road, De Beauvoir.

The three bodies were discovered on the morning of July 17, 1982.

A number of people were interviewed by detectives at the time of the murders, but no one was charged in connection with the investigation.

Following a review of the case in April 2009 by the Murder Review Group, new lines of inquiry were identified. The case was passed to the Homicide and Serious Crime Command to investigate further.

Dyce, who is also known as Tony, was arrested in connection with the murders on October 3, 2009. He was subsequently bailed pending further inquiries and charged in April this year.