Mother of three knifed to death in grounds of former mental hospital
A MOTHER was stabbed to death while walking in the grounds of a former mental health hospital.
Gemma Cowey, 38, was spotted in the company of a man shortly before she was found with serious injuries.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene in Norwich but were unable to save her life. A man in his 40s and from the city was arrested on suspicion of murder a few hours later in Warwickshire.
He was brought back for questioning and was still being interviewed by detectives yesterday. Norfolk Police said the suspect and Miss Cowey, who is believed to have run a shop and was also known as Gemma Marjoram, were known to each another.
Her family said in a statement: ‘Our beautiful girl, Gemma Lynne Marjoram, was cruelly taken from our lives on Friday.
‘Gemma, a devoted mummy to three children, Kacie, Callum and Abigail. Loving big sister to Joanne and Kimberley. We are beyond heartbroken. No more words.’ Detective Inspector Lewis Craske said his officers were trying to identify the exact circumstances leading up to the killing.
He appealed for information from anyone who had been near the ruins of St Andrew’s Hospital in Thorpe St Andrew on Friday between 11am and 1pm.
Miss Cowey is understood to have been attacked near a former mortuary hidden by trees and bushes.
Police have set up floodlights beside the derelict building to help their search for evidence. They also put up a cordon around a black bicycle abandoned 200 yards from the murder scene.
St Andrew’s Hospital, formerly Norfolk County Asylum, opened in the early 19th century and closed in 1998.
Some of the original Grade II-listed buildings were converted into private housing.
The main building, which some claim is haunted, was used as offices by Norfolk Primary Care Trust until 2007.
It was put up for sale in 2011 but plans to turn it into a business park never materialised and it fell into disrepair.
John Fisher, who is mayor of Thorpe St Andrew, said: ‘I’ve lived here for 37 years and I don’t think I’ve heard of anything quite like this before.’
Chloe Smith, Tory MP for Norwich North, described the case as shocking.