Boy, six, dials 999 after mum stabbed to death

A sIX-YeAr-OLD boy rang 999 after finding his mother had been stabbed to death yesterday afternoon.

The victim, who was in her 30s and had a second child aged three months, was killed in a flat in Battersea, south West London. Armed police broke down the door and paramedics battled in vain to save the woman for almost an hour.

A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.

The victim is believed to have been with her children in the flat, in the well-heeled Lavender hill area near Clapham Junction, when she was attacked. she has not been formally identified and her next-of-kin are yet to be informed.

A neighbour said: ‘she has two kids, a six-yearold boy and a three month old. The eldest child is the one that called the police. he found her.

‘My friend lives in the flat below. The woman was ringing her doorbell at 9am, but she couldn’t answer as she’d just had an operation.’

Another local resident said: ‘My wife and I saw armed police break down the door and enter the house. We originally thought someone had been

‘The eldest child found her’

shot. One police officer left holding a small stepladder. We have two young children so we’re glad it wasn’t a shooting.’

Vickie Foot, 43, who lives nearby, saw the suspect being arrested. she said: ‘They handcuffed him and put him into the van. he looked quite calm.’

Last night the property remained cordoned off. Police officers reassured residents in Lavender hill, an area popular with young families, telling them: ‘It’s not gang-related.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Police were called on Wednesday, August 15 at 12.38pm to a report of a stabbing. A woman, believed to be aged in her 30s was found with a stab injury. she was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.41 pm.

‘A 40-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. The homicide and Major Crime Command have been informed. Inquiries are ongoing. At this stage, police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation.’

London Ambulance service said: ‘We sent an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic, a single responder in a car and an ambulance crew.

‘We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance. sadly, despite the efforts of our medics, a person died at the scene.’