Murder attempt on dead man's wife

Version 0 of 1.

An attack on a 53-year-old woman, whose husband's body was found in a wooded area in Staffordshire, is being treated as attempted murder.

Christine Anne Keates remains seriously ill in hospital on Saturday after being discovered at her home in The Avenue, Cheadle, on Friday morning.

The body of Mark Oliver Keates, 46, was found next to the B5417 at High Shutt near Cheadle about two hours earlier.

His death is not being treated as suspicious, police said.

Attacked in bedroom

The Staffordshire force said it was not looking for anyone else in connection with his death, following the discovery of his body at about 0800 GMT.

Christine Keates was found with serious head injuries when police visited the home at about 1000 GMT.

She was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and had surgery on Friday night.

Det Insp Simon Tweats, who is leading the investigation, said Mrs Keates was attacked in her bedroom.

Car found

He said: "Christine was attacked some time after 10pm on Thursday.

"Mr Keates is believed to have gone out to pubs in the Cheadle area at around 6.30pm Thursday.

"But we are still trying to build up a picture of where he went and what he did between then and when his body was found the next morning."

His silver Honda Prelude car, with a registration number of L471 MUX, was found parked on a track near to his body.

The couple's house was expected to remain cordoned off as a crime scene until at least 1200 GMT on Sunday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newcastle-under-Lyme CID.