Boy is found dead a day after police called to his home
A LIttLE boy was found murdered at his home early yesterday barely 24 hours after police had been called to a domestic incident at the same address.
his body was left behind by a couple said to be his parents after the woman suffered serious injuries in a second disturbance and they drove to hospital together.
Police rushed to the rented twobedroom semi near Manchester Airport after an alert and found the body just after midnight.
shocked neighbours said the boy appeared to have been three or four years old and they had often seen him playing happily on his bike.
the man, aged 31, was last night being questioned on suspicion of murder and the woman, also 31, was being treated for her wounds.
Police said they were first called to the house on Friday after reports of an angry shouting match between the couple, both said to be from Poland.
‘the police were here for about two hours,’ said neighbour Mike robson, 32. ‘Apparently the couple had been arguing.’
Another resident said of saturday night’s drama: ‘I heard a woman’s scream and then a car sped off quite quickly later. Police turned up and there was blood outside the house.’
the family of three had been staying at the £700-a- month home in Beaford road, Wythenshawe, for about three months but neighbours did not know their names.
‘I’ve seen the boy play in the garden and outside,’ said a woman resident. ‘I always thought he looked happy. It’s heartbreaking.’ A neighbour who had seen the boy on his bike added: ‘his mum seemed to dote on him’.
Because of the earlier call- out, Greater Manchester Police are referring themselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission — standard procedure when someone dies following previous police action.
A VW Polo was parked in the driveway of the house yesterday as a sceneof-crime
‘Woman screamed then car sped off’
cordon was extended. Police said the names of the family were not being released because relatives had not yet been informed. they described the boy as ‘a young toddler’.
superintendent John-Paul ruffle said the discovery of his body was ‘deeply distressing’ and added: ‘this is an absolutely tragic case. We have launched a full murder investigation and have a team of detectives working to establish exactly what has led to this young boy’s death.
‘Although we have made an arrest I would stress that this investigation is at an early stage and I would urge people not to speculate.
‘there will be a scene at the property for a number of days while officers investigate the case and you will see more police within the area to provide reassurance to the local community.’
Mr ruffle said he could not disclose any further details of the case, including who had called police to the incidents or the nature of any injuries. A post-mortem would take place to identify the cause of the boy’s death.
he said of Friday’s call-out: ‘We have had one previous domestic incident reported on August 25 and that investigation was still ongoing.’