Girl, five, fled and hid behind oak tree as her mother was 'murdered' inside semi-detached family home in Norfolk village, neighbours say as police quiz man in his 30s over killing
A five-year-old girl ran out of her home screaming and hid behind the trunk of a 70ft tall oak tree in a sleepy Norfolk village while her mother was being allegedly murdered, it was revealed today.
Neighbours claimed the child fled from her family's semi-detached house in quiet cul-de-sac Lake Close, Shipdham and sheltered behind the oak on an area of common land near the home.
Her mother - who was in her 30s - was later found dead inside their three-bedroom house. Armed police rushed to the close on Sunday and were seen arresting a man aged in his 30s on suspicion of murder.
The victim is said to be Eastern European and had moved to the house in December. She also had a 17-year-old daughter, was described as 'absolutely lovely' by neighbours, and was said to be devoted to her two children.
Norfolk Police said officers were 'called to reports of a concern for safety at an address' in Lake Close at 1.21pm on Sunday. Their statement added the woman was pronounced dead by paramedics at 2.18pm.
A spokesman said: 'A man from Shipdham, in his 30s, has subsequently been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being questioned at Wymondham Police Investigation Centre in connection with the incident.'
Police stand guard outside the house in Shipdham, where a mother was allegedly murdered
The incident happened in a new cul-de-sac of two and three bedroom houses and bungalows built for the Saffron Housing Trust housing association.
Developers left the huge oak tree as a landmark feature on the green open space at the centre of the development.
Alice Wool, 19, who lives opposite with her four-month-old daughter, said: 'She was an absolutely lovely lady. What has happened is just horrific. I literally can't believe it. She always smiled and waved at me when she used to go out shopping.
'She had a partner, but I don't think he was there all the time, although he was there a lot. But for the last four weeks or so he has not really been around. I was out when it happened, but a neighbour told me that there were screams and the little girl ran out of the house and hid behind a tree.
'Then a neighbour came out and took her in before the police arrived. It must have been awful for her and I can't stop thinking about it.'
Miss Wool described the victim as a keen gardener who always tried to keep her front and back garden neat and tidy.
She added: 'If she bought ice lollies for her daughters, she would always have extra ones to hand out to other children playing outside in the close. She used to cut up a whole water melon and share it out between all the local children.
Neighbours claimed the child fled from her family's semi-detached house in quiet cul-de-sac Lake Close, Shipdham and sheltered behind the oak on an area of common land
'She loved her garden and was always planting things. She even planted flowers and plants on strip of public land beside our green to brighten it up.
'I know she had also put some fruit trees in her back garden. She said she wanted fruit to grow so she could give it to the local children.'
David Arthurton, 58, who is disabled and lives in a bungalow opposite the woman's house, said: 'I saw the police arrive just after 1pm, then more and more armed officers arrived. I think they were waiting for back up, but I saw them walking around with their guns.
'They ended up going round the back and breaking down the back door.. A little while later they came out with a man in cuffs and they put him in a van.'
Another neighbour Jamie Douglas, 19, said: 'I was sat inside and my girlfriend said she had sen an ambulance. Then it just went mad. There were seven police cars, five armed response vehicles, a dog unit and a couple of ambulances, as well as an air ambulance helicopter landing at the back.
'I heard that she was dead at the scene.
'My friend who lives nearer their house said he had never heard any rows or arguments there. His kids used to go round for meals, and they never came back saying there had been arguments.'
Mr Douglas added: 'The woman and her partner were quite quiet and kept themselves to themselves. I knocked on their door once to borrow a jerry can for my motorbike, and they struggled to understand what I meant. I think they were either Polish or Lithuanian.
'I had to explain what a jerry can was, and it turned out they did have one and they leant it to me.
'The guy used to drive an Isuzu Trooper four wheel drive. The only time I used to see him was when he was outside working on his car. It disappeared for a while and then this happens.'
Local resident Salvatore Cappuccio, 54, said: 'I was just leaving my house and saw police everywhere. I had never seen anything like it. There were police cars everywhere and I thought, 'What the hell is going on?'.
'The air ambulance landed and I realised something bad had happened, but it was too late to save her because she was gone. It's such a shame.'
Police are appealing for anyone with information to call contact Norfolk Constabulary on 101 quoting CAD 214 of August 1, 2021, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org