Three more people have died in a string of killings during the UK lockdown after two pensioners and a man were found dead this week.
The killings bring the total number of dead to 12 in five days as quarantine continues across the country.
In Derbyshire, officers were called to a house in Langley Mill in Derbyshire at around 2am on Friday, where they found a man’s body inside the property.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, which was a property on Frost Avenue, and a 28-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and she remains in police custody.
A Derbyshire police spokesperson said: ‘We are treating this as an isolated incident and our investigations are still in the early stages as we work to establish the facts.
A 40-year-old woman has been arrested after a man was found dead at his house in Langley Mill, Derbyshire early on Friday morning
‘There will be an increased police presence in the area and a scene remains in place.’
The force said the death is being treated as an isolated incident and investigations are still in the early stages.
There is set to be an increased police presence in the area and a cordon remains in place.
Anyone with information should call Derbyshire police on 101 quoting reference number 20*0174795.
In Manchester, a 40-year-old man being arrested on suspicion of murder after a pensioner’s body was found at a home in Greater Manchester.
Police were called by the ambulance service following concerning reports for the welfare of a man at a property on Holland Road, Hyde.
They attended shortly after 2pm on Thursday and discovered the body of a man in his 80s.
A 40-year-old man has now been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody, and Greater Manchester Police said they were ‘keeping an open mind’ about the circumstances surrounding the pensioner’s death.
The incident comes on the same day as a man being arrested on suspicion of murdering a pensioner in Hyde, Greater Manchester
Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Chatterton, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: ‘This was a tragic incident which sadly resulted in the death of an elderly man in his own home. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this devastating time.
‘Whilst we have a man in custody who is assisting us with our enquiries, we are keeping an open mind and officers are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
‘I understand this has created some concern in the community but I would like to use this opportunity to reassure members of the public that the investigation team is making progress and there is no suggestion this death is linked to Covid-19.
‘If anyone has any information, I would encourage them to contact us.’
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4655 quoting 1150 of 02/04/20.
In County Antrim, a man has been charged with murdering his elderly grandmother during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Elizabeth Dobbin – known as Betty – was 82 and was found dead on Monday evening in the harbour town of Larne.
Today her grandson Alan Gingles, 32, was charged with her murder and claimed he was ‘seeing zombies’.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court also heard that Gingles expressed concerns about coronavirus when police quizzed him following the sudden death of Mrs Dobbin.
The pensioner’s body was discovered at the home they shared on Dromaine Drive in the Craigyhill area of the town on Monday evening at around 10pm.
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Major Investigation Team charged Gingles with her murder after a post-mortem examination was carried out.
The accused’s court appearance was conducted by video-link from a custody suite at Belfast’s Musgrave police station due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He spoke only to confirm that he understood the single charge against him. No bail application was made during the hearing, and no further details were revealed about the cause of death.
And a third murder this week came in County Antrim where Alan Gingles has been accused of murdering his grandmother Betty Dobbin
But Gingles’ solicitor, John Doran, said: ‘This was his grandmother, it’s a very tragic situation.’
An investigating detective was asked to confirm the accused accepted causing Mrs Dobbin’s death ‘very early on’ in the course of seven interviews. The detective replied: ‘There’s no argument with that.’
Mr Doran also told the court: ‘Mr Gingles spoke of hearing voices, and concerns about the coronavirus. He also spoke of seeing zombies.’
A defence based on diminished responsibility due to some type of psychotic episode is expected to be mounted, the lawyer indicated.
‘That clearly will be a matter for expert medical opinion further down the line,’ he added.
Remanding Gingles in custody, District Judge George Conner said he will appear again by video-link in four weeks time on April 30.
A neighbour of Mrs Dobbin described her as a ‘quiet, harmless and friendly’ woman who was well respected.
He said: ‘She lost her husband Geordie (George) many years ago, he worked in the power station in the town.
‘She took in her grandson Alan after he had been living in England a while as his mother is no longer alive.
‘Betty was just a quiet, harmless and friendly woman and what has happened to her has left the town in complete shock.’