Grieving mother of the 'red balloon' brother and sister 'murdered by their British father' leads tearful procession through French village Mathew and Carla Stevenson were popular pupils at school in rural France Both 'had their throats cut by their father during an alcohol-fuelled rage' Mother, Stephanie Morlet, leads emotional march in memory of her children Family moved to the village of Charantonnay near Lyon six years ago Julian Stevenson had not been allowed to see children for three years because of violent temper Hugging and smiling, they were a brother and sister who could not have been prouder of one another. Mathew and Carla Stevenson were two of the most popular pupils at their primary school in rural France and renowned for being extremely close. But last Saturday both allegedly became victims of a bitter custody battle between their English father and French mother. Mother Stephanie Morlet, who was divorced from Julian Stevenson, wore sunglasses as she joined hundreds of school children and well-wishers in her home village Stephanie Morlet attended a special service in remembrance of two children murdered by their British father in Charantonney, Lyon The youngsters, many of them friends of the murdered pair, wore white T-shirts and clutched white balloons in moving scenes in front of Stephanie Morlet In a suspected double murder, 10-year-old Mathew and five-year-old Carla are said to have had their throats cut by their father, Julian Stevenson. The 48-year-old, who is originally from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, allegedly killed them both in an alcohol-fuel rage. Their mother, Stephanie Morlet, came to collect them from a visit - the first Stevenson had been allowed in three years because of his violent behaviour - and saw him escaping the murder scene in a suburb of Lyon on a pair of roller-skates. Today, a picture of the loving little brother and sister was on display in the village of Charantonnay, south of Lyon, where the children's former classmates took part in a 'white march' in support of the family. Many were in floods of tears as Ms Morlet, who is in her early 40s, walked at the head of a process of some 300 people carrying white roses and white balloons. 'They were hugely popular children,' said Marie-Jeanne Chesneau. Our aim today is to show how much they meant to us, and how much we miss them. Emotional: The picture went on display in the village of Charantonnay, south of Lyon, before taken on a 'white march' led by their tearful mother Heartbroken: Many of the 300-strong march were in floods of tears as they carried white roses and white balloons in support of the family Tight-knit community: The Morlet family had moved to the village some six years ago and Mathew and Carla enrolled at the local school in 2010 Devastated: Mrs Morlet wore dark glasses as she walked through the village surrounded by family members Mrs Chesneau said the Morlet family had moved to the village some six years ago, and Mathew and Carla enrolled at the local village school in 2010. This was around the time that Ms Morlet was divorcing Stevenson because of his violent behaviour. Mrs Morlet wore dark glasses today as she walked through the town surrounded by family members. 'Stephanie inconsolable - her world has fallen apart,' said one family member. What has happened is absolutely horrific. Ms Morlet was badly beaten up by Stevenson in 2005 and 2010, when an order was made preventing Stevenson seeing the children without a third party adult being present. Tribute: Adults and children place white roses by a portrait of the Stevenson children in Charantonnay Tragic: The children both allegedly became victims of a bitter custody battle between their English father and French mother Stevenson has been formally placed under criminal investigation for the double, and is likely to be remanded in custody until his murder trial. Another judicial source said: 'We are presently holding back from the charge of premeditated murder but this could always change.' Neighbours of the Stevenson said he had appeared 'calm and relaxed' as he wandered around the St Priest suburb of Lyon, where he lives, with the two children on Saturday morning. When Mrs Stevenson, an accountant's assistant, returned to pick up the children from the second floor apartment at around 5pm on Saturday she saw Stevenson looking 'panicked and angry', according to a neighbour.