‘Murder-suicide’ children cared for by ‘loved ones’

POLICE discovered a suspected murder-suicide after a neighbour became concerned by cries of children, including a baby, coming from a house.

The body of a 26-year-old woman was found at a family home in the West Midlands.

She is thought to have been attacked and killed by her 30-yearold husband, named locally as Paul Lander, before he took his own life.

Police said a neighbour called officers after hearing the cries of three children, all aged under eight, at the address in Pel Crescent, Oldbury.

The woman had suffered fatal head injuries and her husband’s body was discovered in another room.

West Midlands Police Detective Inspector Jim Munro said police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

He said: “This is a truly tragic incident: it’s understood the woman was violently attacked before the offender took his own life.

“The timeline of exactly what happened is unclear but we believe the two people died during the morning.

“There were three children, including a small baby, present at the address when officers made the discovery, they are being looked after by loved ones and will receive specialist support.”

Shocked residents spoke of their horror at the news in what is usually a quiet suburban street.

Police and at least three ambulances rushed to the semi-detached house, home to what neighbours described as an Eastern European couple, on Saturday afternoon.

The property is thought to belong to a housing association.