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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Man held over city flat murders | Man held over city flat murders |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Police are continuing to question a man who was arrested over the murders of a disabled woman and her carer at a flat in Southampton. | |
| A 47-year-old man, who is from Southampton, was held in Swanage, Dorset, on Saturday morning. | A 47-year-old man, who is from Southampton, was held in Swanage, Dorset, on Saturday morning. |
| He was taken to a police station in Hampshire and is being questioned about the murders of Sue Hale, 49, and carer Sarah Merritt, 39. | |
| The bodies were found in a flat in Townhill Park on Thursday. | The bodies were found in a flat in Townhill Park on Thursday. |
| Police revealed Mrs Merritt died from stab wounds. | Police revealed Mrs Merritt died from stab wounds. |
| Sarah was a kind and loving person whose loss has devastated our whole family Peter Merritt | Sarah was a kind and loving person whose loss has devastated our whole family Peter Merritt |
| A police spokeswoman said a post-mortem examination carried out on Ms Hale on Saturday revealed she also died as a result of stab wounds. | A police spokeswoman said a post-mortem examination carried out on Ms Hale on Saturday revealed she also died as a result of stab wounds. |
| Police are viewing CCTV footage taken from the block of 10 flats, which were evacuated as the investigation got under way. | Police are viewing CCTV footage taken from the block of 10 flats, which were evacuated as the investigation got under way. |
| Officers broke into the ground-floor flat on Thursday at 1720 GMT and found the bodies of the two women. | Officers broke into the ground-floor flat on Thursday at 1720 GMT and found the bodies of the two women. |
| It is believed the alarm was raised by the care worker's council employer and her husband, who reported her missing. | It is believed the alarm was raised by the care worker's council employer and her husband, who reported her missing. |
| The block of flats have been cordoned off and evacuated Ms Hale suffered from cerebellar ataxia, a rare degenerative brain disorder which caused her difficulties in walking and led to her using walking sticks and a mobility scooter to get around. | The block of flats have been cordoned off and evacuated Ms Hale suffered from cerebellar ataxia, a rare degenerative brain disorder which caused her difficulties in walking and led to her using walking sticks and a mobility scooter to get around. |
| Mrs Merritt, who was married with two children, was her care worker who visited twice a week to help bathe Ms Hale. | Mrs Merritt, who was married with two children, was her care worker who visited twice a week to help bathe Ms Hale. |
| In a statement the family of Ms Hale said: "We remember Sue as a happy, outgoing and bubbly person, who was loved dearly and will be missed greatly. | In a statement the family of Ms Hale said: "We remember Sue as a happy, outgoing and bubbly person, who was loved dearly and will be missed greatly. |
| "Despite the challenges that her disability posed, she always faced them with humour and dignity. | "Despite the challenges that her disability posed, she always faced them with humour and dignity. |
| "We are finding it very difficult to come to terms with her death and cannot understand why this had happened to such a vulnerable, loving person." | "We are finding it very difficult to come to terms with her death and cannot understand why this had happened to such a vulnerable, loving person." |
| 'Proud carer' | 'Proud carer' |
| Mrs Merritt's husband, Peter, 41, of Oaktree Road, said: "Sarah was a kind and loving person whose loss has devastated our whole family. | Mrs Merritt's husband, Peter, 41, of Oaktree Road, said: "Sarah was a kind and loving person whose loss has devastated our whole family. |
| "She was proud to be a carer and was happy to provide comfort and support for those she cared for. | "She was proud to be a carer and was happy to provide comfort and support for those she cared for. |
| "She was a loving mother to our two children and always strived to do the best for her family. As well as my wife she was my best friend." | "She was a loving mother to our two children and always strived to do the best for her family. As well as my wife she was my best friend." |
| Mrs Merritt was a care worker employed by agency Carewatch which was contracted by Southampton City Council, according to police. | Mrs Merritt was a care worker employed by agency Carewatch which was contracted by Southampton City Council, according to police. |