[13 OCT 00] CRIMES, FIRES & ACCIDENTS
Three Found Murdered In Coventry House

Three members of a family have been found murdered in their Coventry home.

The shocking discovery was made at 6.50pm yesterday in a house in Yewdale Crescent in Potters Green.

Police were called to the scene by a 24-year-old man who has since been taken into custody in connection with the murders.

He is currently receiving hospital treatment before being interviewed. No-one else is being sought in connection with the incident.

Supt Bob Minshull said when police arrived at the scene they found Transco workers turning off the gas supply following reports from neighbours of a smell of gas coming from the house.

They went inside and found the suspect and the bodies.

The three dead people have not yet been formally identified. Police believe they were the suspect’s 76-year-old grandfather, his mother and his aunt, who were aged 46 and 43.

Supt Minshull told a press conference that all three deceased had suffered serious head wounds.

They were found in different rooms in the house – the women were in each of the downstairs rooms, while the man was discovered on the landing.

It is thought that they suffered the injuries two days ago.

A post-mortem examination is being carried out to establish the cause and time of death.

Supt Minshull said:

“A critical line of enquiry will be for the motive. We have to keep an open mind at this stage.

“The first thing we need to establish is the cause of death and when that death was likely to have occurred.

“The suspect is in custody but he is not well enough to be interviewed. He is under treatment.”

Supt Andy Nicholson said a thorough search of the house, including a hunt for any possible weapon used in the attack, had not yet been carried out.

He said:

“The scene is relatively calm. There was no obvious sign of a great struggle.

“It is fairly horrific finding three bodies and we have not yet carried out a search.”

Supt Nicholson added that it was unlikely that the gas was turned on at the same time the attacks took place.

A full forensic examination of the scene is to be carried out again, and neighbours are to be interviewed to find out if there were any disturbances.

Supt Minshull said an initial examination of police records suggest that this was the firs time the police had been called to the house, but more detailed work would have to be carried out.

He appealed to anyone with information to call 024 7653 9020.