An 18-year-old youth has been jailed for 10 years plus treatment at a secure psychiatric unit for killing his sister, mother and grandmother at their home last September.

The youth was a minor when he committed the crime but was tried under adult law because of the seriousness of the offences.

He was arrested after the three bodies were found at the terraced home in Veghel, a small town between Den Bosch and Eindhoven. Police were alerted by another member of the family who tried to gain access to the house.

He had strangled his 10-year-old sister and battered his mother and grandmother to death with a dumbbell.

According to news agency ANP, family friends say the youth ‘lost it’ after his father died of carbon-monoxide poisoning during a visit to Turkey. The Telegraaf said he had been suicidal since his father’s death.

The court ruled that the youth, who was not in court and is said to be autistic, showed diminished responsibility and lacked empathy, hence the decision to send him to secure psychiatric unit after his prison term.