Murder probe as woman stabbed to death

A MAJOR police murder inquiry swept into action today after a woman was stabbed to death at a house in Suffolk.

Soon after the grim discovery a van crashed into a wall on the A12, between Ufford and Melton and a man sustained spinal injuries. He was arrested at the scene and taken to Ipswich Hospital under police escort.

Suffolk police were called to the house in Marlesford, near Wickham Market, at 6.50am this morning after a woman, in her 40's, was found in a house set back off the A12.

The ambulance service was called to the scene at 6.44am and it is believed they immediately alerted Suffolk police.

The house where the body was found is the Old Bell public house, which was converted recently into a domestic property with a thatched roof and white stonewashed exterior. Several vehicles can be seen in a large field at the rear of the house.

The couple who lived there are the former landlord and landlady of the Old Bell, named locally as Paul and Sharon.

Albert Riches, next-door neighbour, said of the couple: 'They very much kept themselves to themselves. They are nice pleasant people and we got on with them well.

'Paul used to have a business where he did up driveways and roads and that type of thing.'

Mr Riches said Paul had possibly had heart trouble in the past. He is believed to be in his late 50's to early 60s.

He and his wife lived at the property with their two sons, who Mr Riches thought were both in their 20s.

The couple ran the pub before it closed down around five years ago. They have been living at the property for around 15 years.

Mr Riches said he thought they had come to Suffolk from the Essex area, possibly close to London. However, the pub shutting down was a big blow to them.

He added the village would be saddened and stunned by the tragedy.

He said: 'It's awfully sad. Most people will be shocked like I am.'

The drama was witnessed by Lord Mark Marlesford, who drove back into Suffolk after duties in London overnight.

He saw the crash scene and later visited officers at the cordoned-off house but said no information was given by police.

A spokesperson from Suffolk Police said: 'A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found at a property on Main Road, Marlesford.

'Police were called by the ambulance service at 6.45am who reported that a woman had been stabbed. She had been found by a family member who contacted the ambulance service.

Police have cordoned off the area while a forensic search gets underway. Police said that a search was to be conducted at the scene of the crash.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may have heard or seen anything between midnight and 7am.

Anyone with information should contact Suffolk Police on 01473 613500.