My sister moved to the UK for a better life - but she met a monster
A heartbroken woman has revealed how her sister and her two-year-old niece were lured to a man's 'house of horrors' where they were murdered and buried under his kitchen floor. Bennylyn Burke, 25, and her young daughter, Jellica Burke, then 2, were from the Philippines but living in Bristol and her older sister Shela Aquino, has spoken of how the whole family were so proud of her generous, intelligent sibling who had moved to the UK for a better future. But then she met stranger, Andrew Innes, 52, on a dating website. who persuaded Bennylyn to come with him 440 miles to his home in Dundee, Scotland, where he murdered her with a hammer and samurai sword, before sexually abusing and strangling toddler, Jellica, to death. Innes has recently been sentenced to life at the High Court in Edinburgh and must serve a minimum of 36 years. Bennylyn Burke, 25, and her young daughter, Jellica Burke, then 2, who were from the Philippines but living in Bristol were lured to a man's house where he murdered and buried them under his kitchen floor Shela, a stay-at-home mum, said: 'My sister bravely left home to seek a better future herself and her daughter in the UK. 'Instead, she found the worst cruelty imaginable by someone she trusted. I live in agony thinking about their final moments.' Growing up, Shela and her sister, Bennylyn, lived with their parents and siblings in the Philippines. Bennylyn was very intelligent, and was an honour student, and often made her family proud. Shela says: 'Bennylyn wasn't just my sister. She was my best friend. 'Back home in the Philippines we grew up very poor. But we always made the most of what we had.' In 2015, when Bennylyn was 20, she met a British man visiting the country and they fell in love and got married. Three years later, in 2018, Bennylyn fell pregnant and gave birth to her daughter, Jellica. Bennylyn's older sister Shela Aquino, (left) who was in their hometown in the Philippines, met Innes via video-call when he was driving them 440 miles to his home in Dundee, Scotland Innes has recently been sentenced to life at the High Court in Edinburgh and must serve a minimum of 36 years Andrew was captured on CCTV again buying more materials the week after the murders He put their bodies in rubble bags and concealed them in concrete under the kitchen floor In 2019, Bennylyn's husband convinced her to move back to his hometown in the UK. He promised her that Jellica would have a better education and future there In March 2020, Bennylyn moved to her own flat in Bristol, and found a job as a selling vacuum cleaners online Shela says: 'Watching Bennylyn become a mum made me very proud. 'Jellica was Bennylyn's world. I adored my little niece too and loved babysitting her. 'But the next year, in 2019, Bennylyn's husband convinced her to move back to his hometown in the UK. 'He promised Bennylyn that Jellica would have a better education and future there. 'My family and I were gutted but I understood she wanted a better future for her child.' After six months in the UK, Jellica's marriage fell apart. But by then, she'd fallen in love with England and knew it was a better life for her little girl. In March 2020, she moved to her own flat in Bristol, and found a job as a selling vacuum cleaners online. Growing up, Shela (right) and her sister, Bennylyn, (left) lived with their parents and siblings in the Philippines Bennylyn Burke (left) then 14, and her big sister Shela Aquino in their hometown in the Philippines Shela, 36, was pictured with her young niece Jellica the year she was murdered After six months in the UK, Jellica's marriage fell apart. But by then, she'd fallen in love with England and knew it was a better life for her little girl Shela said she found Andrew's Facebook page and begged him to tell her where Bennylyn and Jellica were Shela says: 'She constantly sent us money, to help us out. She even helped her friends and was so generous. 'She dreamed of opening her own business one day. Every day, we chatted on video-call. I missed them.' Shela and her sister stayed in touch constantly, and the following year, in February 2021, Shela video-called her sister, as usual. Shela says: 'She said she was in Andrew's car and that he was taking her and Jellica to his home in Dundee, Scotland. 'I didn't know who he was, and was confused. But she quickly explained they'd recently met on a dating website. 'Suddenly, she pointed the camera to a man driving. He had pale skin, thinning hair and looked a lot older than Bennylyn. 'He smiled and said hello to me, so I waved hello back to him. He said how it was nice to meet me and began talking about how his ex-wife and kids were from Japan. Outside the 'house of horrors' where Bennylyn and her daughter were murdered in Dundee, Scotland The living room Bennylyn and Jellica spent their last days before being raped and strangled Police photographs show the sledgehammer that Andrew beat Bennylyn to death with 'Our call was cut short and I told Bennylyn to call again when she arrived. 'After the call, I had a weird feeling about Andrew. Especially as they'd met online. I found him on Facebook and saw plenty of photos of his Japanese ex and his kids.' Hours later, Shela received another call from Bennylyn, who told her they'd been sight-seeing around Dundee all day. Shela says: 'She then put the video on and showed me the kitchen, living room and TV. I also noticed a samurai sword in the back. Jellica was playing in a corner. 'While we were chatting, I heard Andrew tell Bennylyn he was going to the shops. But when Bennylyn asked to go, he said no and that he wouldn't be long. 'I told my sister to be safe and she promised to text again shortly. We said goodbye.' After that, Shela continued checking up on Bennylyn but didn't hear back from her. Andrew was seen on CCTV at B&Q buying cement before murdering Bennylyn and her daughter The kitchen floor which Andrew Innes buried Bennylyn and Jellica bodies under She called and texted non-stop for days and frantically messaged her friends. Shela said: 'Days later, I found Andrew's Facebook again and begged him to tell me where Bennylyn and Jellica was. 'I asked if they were alive and to send me a video as proof. He replied with old videos of them in Bristol and told me not to worry. 'My dad and I felt sick with worry. We had a horrible feeling something happened to them.' Days later, Innes messaged Shela 'Scotland is a very peaceful country, we don't have much crime at all. 'Please try not to worry, I'm sure your sister is perfectly safe.' After missing for two weeks, Shela received a call from the Scottish Police that Bennylyn and Jellica were dead. Soon, it was revealed shortly after Shela's video-call, Andrew went to the B&Q to buy cement and a hammer. When he returned, he beat Bennylyn on the head with the hammer. He then stabbed her with a samurai sword, before bludgeoning her with the handle of the blade and the hammer. Days later, he raped Jellica and strangled her to death. He put their bodies in rubble bags and concealed them in concrete under the kitchen floor. Bennylyn, then 25, and her daughter Jellica, then two, sightseeing in Dundee the day they were murdered Andrew beat Bennylyn on the head with the hammer. He then stabbed her with a samurai sword Police tracked his car through CCTV driving from Bristol to Dundee and arrested him at his home. After his arrest, Innes admitted everything and told them he'd done it because they reminded him of his past family. Shela says: 'Thinking about what Bennylyn and Jellica went through tore us into pieces. We just couldn't fathom it. 'It was like something out of a horror film. How could someone do that to my sister? And an innocent little girl? Jellica was only two.' Time passed and as the trial approached in February 2022, Shela and her family flew to the UK and faced Andrew at the High Court in Edinburgh. Shela says: 'In court, we discovered Andrew had targeted all Asian women on the dating app days before he spoke to my sister. 'He gave women top scores who were in their late 20s with young children. 'He'd targeted Bennylyn and promised her a good life and lured her and Jellica to Dundee that day.' That week, Andrew Innes, 52, of Dundee, was found guilty murdering and sexually assaulting Jellica. He was also found guilty of murdering Bennylyn. He was sentenced to life and had to serve a minimum of 36 years at the High Court in Edinburgh. Shela says: 'Although we had justice, nothing would ever bring them back. 'Bennylyn was the kindest, sweetest sister. She had so many hopes and dreams. 'Jellica was an innocent child with her whole life ahead of her. The light in our lives has been cruelly sniffed out.' EdinburghBristol