Murder hunt as two bodies found in Newcastle flat

Aug 10 2008 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

POLICE launched a double murder inquiry last night after two bodies were found in a flat.

Officers were still trying to identify the victims, who were found in a house not far from Newcastle General Hospital in the city’s West End.

Last night, as residents struggled to come to terms with the horror on their doorsteps, police stepped up patrols. They said they would be talking to community leaders in the racially mixed area about the incident.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Shortly after 4.30pm police were called to a first-floor flat at Croydon Road, Newcastle.

Officers attended and discovered two dead bodies at the address. Police have launched a murder inquiry which is at a very early stage.” Specialist investigators, including scene of crime officers and pathologists, were last night looking for forensic clues to the double tragedy.

The spokesman said: “Officers are working to establish the circumstances of the deaths and the identities of the deceased. We are also speaking to local residents.”

Anne Gordon, who lives near the murder flat, said: “Nothing like this has happened in this street before. Everyone is shocked.The police have the house cordoned off. When I came home from work and saw the cordon I knew it was serious.

“There have been a lot of kids standing around watching the police.I have my 14-month-old granddaughter staying with me and I made sure the doors were locked all the time.”

She said police had taken special interest in a silver hatchback parked outside the flat. Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “I’ve never seen that car before but police loaded it into a lorry, covered it in tarpaulin and drove it away. It looks like they were going to test it for clues.”

Police have not released any details about the victims including their ages and gender, nor the circumstances in which their bodies were discovered. The cordoned off house is only 200 yards from the Komal restaurant on Stanhope Street.

Detective chief inspector Mike Paterson, in charge of the case, urged anyone with information to get in touch.The number to ring is 03456-043043. A police spokesman said they would like to reassure any worried residents in the West End.

They said there would be increased patrols in the area and that officers will be speaking to community leaders.