Britain has suffered its first quarantine ‘murders’ after a South Wales man was charged with killing his wife, and NHS nurse was stabbed to death in the street and three died in a murder-suicide as the coronavirus lockdown pressure starts to take its toll on families.
The deaths comes on the seventh day of Britain’s unprecedented lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus. Victoria Woodhall was stabbed outside her home in Middlecliffe and Anthony Williams was accused of killing his wife Ruth, 67, at their home.
As residents are being told to remain at home except for limited reasons, a husband, his wife and their daughter have died in a suspected double-murder-suicide at a house fire in Hemel Hempstead.
Today husband Anthony Williams, 69, from Brynglas, Cwmbran, South Wales, appeared in court accused of murdering his ‘lovely’ wife during self-isolation.
He was arrested after police found his wife Ruth Williams, 67, a former school dinner lady, ‘unconscious and unresponsive’ at their property.
Anthony Williams (left), 69, is accused of killing wife Ruth (right), 67, at their semi-detached home where they had been self isolating
Mum-of-three Victoria Woodhall, 31, was stabbed multiple times yesterday evening outside her home in the village of Middlecliffe, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire
The mother-of-one, from Cwmbran, South Wales, died later in hospital of suspected head injuries.
The couple had been married for 45 years and neighbours said they appeared to be ‘devoted’ to each other.
Williams appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court this morning for a two-minute hearing in which he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
He was remanded in custody by District Judge Stephen Harmes and is due to appear at Cardiff Crown Court tomorrow.
Former ASDA supermarket worker Ruth was found unconscious shortly before 7am on Saturday morning.
Mrs Woodhall’s husband Craig, a former soldier, has been arrested over her murder
It is understood she received her injures several hours before the 999 call was made from the couple’s £160,000 semi on the Brynglas Estate, Cwmbran.
The retired couple had a daughter Emma who was said to be ‘devastated’ by the tragedy.
More than 100 tributes were paid to the Ruth describing her as a ‘lovely and kind’ mother.
A neighbour said: ‘She was a smart and attractive woman with a great sense of humour.
‘She always had a smile and a little twinkle in her eye – it’s such a shock that she had gone.
‘She and her husband seemed to be devoted to each other, there was nothing to say this was going to happen.
‘But people are getting stressed over being locked up together at the moment, I hope that’s not what’s happened with Ruth.’
The tragedy happened in one of the UK’s worst coronavirus areas outside London with 514 confirmed cases.
A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said: ‘Gwent Police received a call to an address in Brynglas, Cwmbran at around 6.50am on Saturday 28 March.
’67-year-old Ruth Williams was found unconscious and unresponsive at the premises. She was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport where she sadly died.
Ms Williams (pictured) was found ‘unconscious and unresponsive’ at the property and died later in hospital of suspected head injuries
The couple had been self isolating at their home in Brynglas, Cwmbran, South Wales
‘A 69-year-old man was arrested, he’s since been charged with murder.’
In South Yorkshire, an NHS nurse and mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, 31, was stabbed multiple times yesterday evening outside her home in the village of Middlecliffe, near Barnsley.
Her husband Craig Woodhall, a former soldier, fled the scene with the couple’s two sons and daughter before he was later arrested by armed police – the children were unharmed.
The fork lift truck driver, 40, who married Victoria just seven months ago, is currently in custody to be questioned about the murder of his wife.
Forensic teams arrive to the scene of a murder after mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, 31, was stabbed multiple times outside her home in the village of Middlecliffe, near Barnsley
The NHS nurse Police, who worked at Rotherham General Hospital, was pronounced dead at the scene
Due to the coronavirus lockdown the gruesome day-light killing, which took place at around 5pm on Sunday, is thought to have been witnessed by many locals residents.
Shortly after a neighbour appealed for help on social media, claiming Mrs Woodhall had been killed ‘in front of people in the street’.
Police, paramedics and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance all attended Windsor Crescent, but Victoria, who was a nurse at Rotherham General Hospital, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Woodhall was later arrested near to an MOT garage, not far from the killing.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: ‘A 40-year-old man is currently in custody after a 31-year-old woman was stabbed during an incident in Barnsley yesterday evening.
‘Emergency services were called to Windsor Crescent, Middlecliffe, just before 5pm, following concerns that a woman had been stabbed.
‘Sadly, the woman was pronounced dead when officers arrived at the scene.
‘The man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
A forensics tent is now in place on the area of the pavement and road outside the marital semi-detached home where Victoria was killed
‘There will continue to be an increased police presence in the area today as officers continue to carry out enquiries.’
A forensics tent is now in place on the area of the pavement and road outside the marital semi-detached home where Victoria was killed.
Crime officers have also been paying attention to a white Seat Leon, which is believed to be Victoria’s. It has since been towed away.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, said: ‘I feel so sorry for the children. They have lost a lovely mum.
The NHS nurse and mother-of-three was stabbed multiple times yesterday evening outside her home
‘I understand that the couple were having relationship problems and might have been living apart recently.’
The couple only got married in September last year. Victoria was a nurse at Rotherham General Hospital.
The attack comes after campaigners warned that the lockdown would make it ‘tougher than normal’ for families at risk of domestic violence.
Rachel Williams, of Stand Up to Domestic Abuse, said: ‘We know there’s a massive influx likely and it will be a pandemic on a pandemic.’
Rachel, who herself was shot by her late husband Darren after years of domestic abuse, said: ‘The perpetrators and the victims would normally spend some parts of the day in work or socialising.
Detectives are investigating the deaths of a father, his wife and their daughter at a house in Hemel Hempstead. Pictured: Fire fighters at the scene
‘That could give the victims breathing space and someone to talk to.
‘The children are also not in school which means they don’t have a safety net – and in some cases a decent meal.
‘Now they’re all sharing their surroundings 24/7 with no breathing space. It will be tougher than normal.’
Detectives are investigating the deaths of Gary Walker, 57, his wife Caroline, 50, and their 24-year-old daughter Katie after the were found at their home by emergency crews on Sunday in Hemel Hempstead.
A blue tent has been erected outside the house, which still had its windows open this morning. The house and the neighbouring property were cordoned off.
Detectives are investigating the deaths of a father, his wife and their daughter at a house in Hemel Hempstead
Officers were called to Stuarts Close shortly after 12.30pm yesterday and the three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
A blue tent has been erected outside the house, which still had its windows open this morning. The house and the neighbouring property were cordoned off.
But investigators now suspect that the tragic incident was the result of a murder-suicide involving the family members.
Major Crime Unit Detective Inspector Iain MacPherson said: ‘We are dealing with three suspicious deaths and are not looking for anyone else in connection to this incident at this time.’