Tragic father returns home after ordeal of identifying dead children

THIS is the first image to emerge of the grieving father of three children found dead in their home in Edinburgh last week.

The photograph was taken after Pasquale Riggi, returned home to Aberdeenshire after the ordeal of identifying the bodies of his eight-year-old twin boys and five-year-old daughter.

Augustino, Gianluca and Cecilia were found in a townhouse in the city's Slateford Road after what was thought to be a gas explosion. Mr Riggi's estranged wife Theresa has already been charged with the murder of the couple's children.

She is still in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after falling from the second floor balcony of the property. She was found at the bottom of the building with serious injuries.

Mr Riggi returned to his home in Aberdeenshire on Saturday night around 24 hours after Mrs Riggi was charged. Police are expected to decide today when she will appear in court.

The 46-year-old violinist is originally from Colorado, but has lived with her husband in Scotland for several years.

Mr Riggi, also 46, who works for an oil company in Aberdeen, arrived at his home at the weekend carrying suitcases and accompanied by an elderly couple.

One neighbour said: "He's a broken man - you can tell just by looking at him. It's so tragic. He had to identify the bodies. Can you imagine that? It must have been horrific. It would break anyone's heart. Our prayers are with him."

Meanwhile, members of the family in America have vowed that the tragedy will not tear the family apart.

Relatives have been gathering at the home of Riggi's 81-year-old mother, Patricia Butimore, in Bakersfield, California. One family member said: "We are united in our grief and there will be no feud over the horrifying events that robbed us of these adorable, innocent youngsters."

Another close relative said: "We have spoken at length to Pasquale's side of the family and there will be no recriminations over this. What happened was horrifying enough and it will be difficult for some not to feel anger, resentment and bitterness."

However, a friend of Mario and Sylvia Riggi, the grandparents of the children, described the couple as "beside themselves" with grief and would not "forgive or forget" what happened. The friend said: "They want Pasquale to come home as soon as he can with the little ones' bodies. Only then can the healing begin."

Relatives on both sides have indicated a wish to lay the children to rest in the United States eventually.