Woman held for daughter's murder

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A 34-year-old woman is under police guard in hospital on suspicion of murdering her four-year-old daughter.

The woman was discovered with serious injuries by Gwent Police at a house in Bideford Close in Maesglas, Newport on Friday lunchtime.

Officers found the little girl dead in her bedroom.

People in the community have spoken of their shock, and governors at a local primary school have been called to an emergency meeting on Saturday.

The arrested woman has been taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital where her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

A forensic examination of the property is being carried out and a post mortem examination will be held on Monday.

It is understood a 12-year-old boy was in the house at the time of the killing.

Police who are carrying out house-to-house inquiries said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and are currently informing family members.

Two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle attended the incident which was reported about 1200 BST on Friday.

Neighbours said the woman was a single parent and the girl used to play outside with local children.

Local councillor Debbie Wilcox said the governors of Maesglas Primary, where the girl is understood to have been a pupil, have been asked to attend an emergency meeting at Newport Civic Centre on Monday morning.

Mrs Wilcox, a councillor for the Gaer ward, said: "I'm a teacher myself and for anything like this to happen to a child is an absolute shock.

"I find it quite sickening to think a child has been murdered. It's dreadful- the kind of thing you read about and not what happens in your community."

She added: "Whatever the circumstances, this is tragic. Children are innocent. There's no rhyme or reason for this to happen.

"The whole community is in an absolute sense of shock. This will affect all of us.

"It's a very close-knit community where people pull together. While it's not the richest end of the spectrum, people are very giving."

Newport's Chief Education Officer Dr Brett Pugh issued a statement saying:"We are shocked and saddened and offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to everyone affected by this tragic news.

"We will ensure that staff, children at the school and parents are provided with every possible support."

"People are shocked that such a young child has died. Jam Mohammed

Jane Lewis, who works at the nearby Maesglas Fish Bar on Cardiff Road, said the death of such a young child had shocked the community.

"There were a lot of rumours going round before we heard exactly what had happened," she said.

"Eventually, when news came out that a child of four had been found dead, it was upsetting and shocking."

Jam Mohammed, who works at AJF convenience stores in Cardiff Road, said customers were coming in upset and seeking more information.

"People are shocked that such a young child has died.

"People have been going from here and heading for Bideford Close. Nobody is very sure what has gone on.

"But people are upset in general and there has been talk of leaving flowers outside the house," he said.