Teacher, 39, is stabbed to death in her home
A VILLAGE primary school teacher has been stabbed to death in her home.
Julie Parkin’s two teenage children were in the house at the time of the suspected murder early on Tuesday.
Shortly after the attack, they were seen outside the house wrapped in blankets and with blood on them.
A 35-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of murder.
Mrs Parkin, 39, suffered the fatal knife wounds in a ‘ domestic incident’, police said yesterday.
The victim lived with her husband Adam, 35, and two children from a previous marriage in the £160,000 three-bedroom semi in Castletown, Sunderland.
She taught pupils aged seven to nine at West Boldon primary school in Northumbria. Neighbours reported hearing the sirens of police and ambulance crews just after midnight.
One, who did not want to be named, said: ‘Around midnight it was chaotic, the street was full of police. The kids were outside wrapped in blankets and appeared to have blood on them.’
Another neighbour, whose son played with Mrs Parkin’s children, said: ‘Julie was very talkative. Adam would say “hi” and stuff like that.
‘They were always out on walks, always seemed happy, were holding hands. She was lovely, absolutely lovely. I’m so shocked.’
Mrs Parkin returned to teaching two years ago after a spell working at a call centre and had spoken of her love of her job. West Boldon headteacher Joanne Weightman said: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic news.
‘She was a highly valued and respected member of staff who was popular with both pupils and colleagues.’
Detective Inspector Dave English said: ‘Our inquiries are in the initial stages but this is believed to be a domestic incident between people who know each other.’