Stabbed wife told children of father's murder

The wife of murdered City financier John Monckton insisted she should tell her children their father had been killed despite still recovering from her injuries, it was revealed today.

Homeyra Monckton, 45, broke the news to the children from her hospital bed after regaining consciousness after a long operation to save her life. She had been stabbed with such force at their Chelsea home that she suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Mr Monckton's cousin, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley, said: "Homeyra was absolutely brilliant. She insisted on telling the children herself about John's death, even though she had just come round from a very big operation."

Police have described the attack on the Moncktons as "ferocious". Mr Monckton, 49, a director at Legal & General, died in hospital within an hour of the attack after he challenged two intruders.

Only the bravery of their nineyearold daughter Isobel, who dialled for an ambulance after hearing the commotion, prevented her mother bleeding to death. Lady Monckton said: " She has very badly c r a c k e d ribs. If not for her daughter, Home y r a would be dead too."

Isobel and the couple's other daughter Sabrina, 12, are currently being cared for by their godparents, but have been visiting their mother every day at St Thomas' Hospital.

Other visits to Homeyra have been from Roman Catholic clergy, a Westminster bishop and a friend of Mr Monckton.

Lady Monckton, whose daughter Rosa was a close friend of Princess Diana, said she had visited Homeyra in hospital. She said: "We are all absolutely stunned by John's

death. He is a great loss to us, to the whole family, and he will be enormously missed by myself and Lord Monckton."

The Moncktons were attacked at their home in Upper Cheyne Row at

7.30pm on Monday, 29 November. Mrs Monckton has told police that one of the attackers was dressed as a postman. The disguise convinced her to remove the chain of her front door.

People living in the neighbourhood where the murder took place have told of growing fears for their safety, with many having experienced violent burglaries.

On Monday night, a week after the attack, detectives revisited the scene to hand out leaflets and appeal for new information. A man has been released on bail after being arrested in connection with the murder . Scotland Yard have appealed for any witnesses who may have seen two men escaping.

The attackers are believed to have fled in the direction of King's Road. One is described as black and the other as light- skinned and between 5ft3in and 5ft 6in tall. Police suspect that one of the intruders may have been injured in the conflict as a trail of blood was left marking their escape route.

Anyone with information should call 020 8358 0400, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.