Teenager, 18, appears in court charged with murdering his mother and his brother and sister

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.

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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