Boy, 16, on murder charge after lecturer is found dead
‘Such lovely and kind people’
A TEENAGE boy was charged last night with the murder of an academic found dead at his home.
Dr Barry Hounsome, 54, who lectured in health science, died from a head injury at the £200,000 bungalow he shared with his wife Natalia.
Police were called to the house in Gosport, Hampshire, on Monday night and arrested a 16-yearold boy. He remained in custody last night and will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court today charged with murder.
Locals spoke last night of their shock at the killing, describing the family as intelligent and ‘lovely’.
Walter Knight, a friend and neighbour of the couple, said he had been left devastated by Dr Hounsome’s death.
‘It’s such a shame what’s happened, the husband and wife were very lovely people,’ he said.
‘She was from somewhere in Germany. They were very nice people, they even got me a Christmas card every year.
‘They were very friendly, they kept themselves to themselves. They were very quiet, but when you did speak to them you could tell they were very intelligent.
‘They had a son, I’m not sure how old he is but I think he is at college – I never really see him.’ Dr Hounsome, who had published papers on diseases including Parkinson’s and dementia, previously worked at the University of Southampton and Bangor University in Wales.
His wife is a lecturer in health economics. She has worked at a number of UK universities since completing her PhD in Moscow in 1996. The bungalow remained cordoned off yesterday as inquiries continued. Officers were seen removing a grey Skoda Octavia from the front of the house and it emerged that the property’s rear patio door had been smashed.
Another neighbour in his 50s, who did not wish to be named, said he was ‘heartbroken’ after losing his ‘friend’. He added: ‘They were such lovely and kind people who could never hurt a soul, I just don’t know how something like this could happen. I’m truly devastated by it all.
‘Natalia is not from the UK and all of her family are abroad, I feel so bad for her. To lose a husband is such a tragic thing to have happened.’ David Orchard, 67, who lives around the corner, said the family had been at the bungalow for about 15 years.
The University of Southampton said Dr Hounsome was last employed by them in 2014.
He is also known to have carried out research at Southampton General Hospital.
A Bangor University spokesman said Dr Hounsome ‘contributed’ to studies there.
Hampshire Police said: ‘Officers were called to an address shortly after 5.30pm on Monday, where the body of Barry Hounsome, 54, was discovered. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
‘A post-mortem examination concluded that he died as a result of a head injury. We understand there will be concern in the community but we would like to reassure residents that this is being treated as an isolated incident.’