The trial of a 47-year-old Suffolk man accused of murdering his unfaithful wife and 12-year-old daughter will enter its final stages this week.

Peter Nash, of Heath Estate, Great Waldingfield, denies murdering his 43-year-old wife Jillu and autistic daughter Louise between September 7 and 9 last year.

Nash finished giving evidence on Friday, May 5, and the case has now been adjourned until Wednesday, May 11, when David Josse KC and Nash, who is representing himself, are expected to make their closing speeches to the jury.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jillu and Louise Nash, who were allegedly murdered by Peter Nash (Image: Suffolk Police)Jillu and Louise Nash, who were allegedly murdered by Peter Nash (Image: Suffolk Police) (Image: Suffolk Police)

The court has heard that the body of Nash’s wife was found under a quilt on the living room floor of the family home.

She had been asphyxiated and appeared to have had a T-shirt stuffed in her mouth, while Louise died from a stab wound to her abdomen.

The court has heard that Mrs Nash had been having an affair for eight months with a man she worked with at Homebase in Sudbury and had been preparing to leave Nash and set up home with her lover.

Mrs Nash had secretly filmed a number of videos of conversations between her and her husband which David Josse KC, prosecuting said showed the “rancorous and unpleasant” side of their marriage which appeared to have irretrievably broken down.

Police went to the couple’s home on Heath Estate, Great Waldingfield, on September 8 after Mrs Nash failed to turn up for work and Louise didn’t go to school.

Police officers forced their way into the family home but were initially deterred by the smell of gas and alerted the fire service.

When the emergency services entered the house they found Mrs Nash’s dead body on the floor in the living room under a quilt and Louise’s body was found under a sheet in a bedroom.

Nash was lying on the bed next to his daughter holding a knife and repeatedly stabbing himself. Police disarmed him after tazering him twice and he was taken to hospital with 22 stab wounds.

At an earlier hearing Nash dispensed with his legal team and said he wanted to represent himself during the trial.

Giving evidence, Nash, who previously described his daughter as his "property", claimed the killings were "lawful".

He claimed his wife had effectively unlawfully killed herself by her behaviour and that he had killed his severely autistic daughter because he was worried about what would happen to her.

The trial continues.