Son, 47, faces murder charge

A Taranaki man has been charged with the murder of his mother. David Blake, 47, appeared in New Plymouth District Court yesterday. He had been arrested during the weekend after the death of Gwen Blake, 71, in Stratford on Friday night. Police were called to a house in Regan St, Stratford, on Friday, after a member of the public heard shouting coming from the address. Police discovered the woman dead when they arrived. An autopsy found she died of injuries related to a serious assault. Blake was remanded in custody and is due to reappear on February 20.