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Woman murdered and suspect dies after Taser stun gun arrest | Woman murdered and suspect dies after Taser stun gun arrest |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man and woman have died after police were called to a homeless hostel in Caerphilly county and fired a Taser stun gun at a suspect. | A man and woman have died after police were called to a homeless hostel in Caerphilly county and fired a Taser stun gun at a suspect. |
Officers went to the former Sirhowy Arms Hotel in Argoed, Blackwood, at 01:23 GMT where it was reported that a man was attacking a woman. | Officers went to the former Sirhowy Arms Hotel in Argoed, Blackwood, at 01:23 GMT where it was reported that a man was attacking a woman. |
The woman, 22, was injured and died. Her death is being treated as murder. | |
Gwent Police said a Taser was fired and the man, 34, was arrested. He then died despite efforts to save him. | |
The matter has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which confirmed it is investigating. | |
The police force said the man was local to the area and the woman was from Blackwood. | |
It added it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. | |
The nature of the man and woman's relationship is not clear but it is believed they were a couple. | The nature of the man and woman's relationship is not clear but it is believed they were a couple. |
'Real shock' | 'Real shock' |
June Trace, secretary of Argoed Baptist Chapel, which is next door to the hostel, said the Sirhowy Arms had been converted into accommodation for vulnerable people several years ago. | June Trace, secretary of Argoed Baptist Chapel, which is next door to the hostel, said the Sirhowy Arms had been converted into accommodation for vulnerable people several years ago. |
Mrs Trace said: "It's a real shock." | Mrs Trace said: "It's a real shock." |
She told BBC Wales that the building had a "fluctuating population" of people, often aged in their 30s or 40s, who would stay there for a time before moving on. | She told BBC Wales that the building had a "fluctuating population" of people, often aged in their 30s or 40s, who would stay there for a time before moving on. |
She said there had been concern in the village when plans were put forward to convert the building, but she added: "There's never been any trouble or anything." | She said there had been concern in the village when plans were put forward to convert the building, but she added: "There's never been any trouble or anything." |
The chapel hall, which is next to the hostel, has been opened for police use during the investigation. | The chapel hall, which is next to the hostel, has been opened for police use during the investigation. |
Forensics experts dressed in white head-to-toe overalls, were combing the area for clues on Thursday while residents watched on the other side of the police cordon. | |
Councillor Leon Gardiner said villagers had been talking about the incident. | Councillor Leon Gardiner said villagers had been talking about the incident. |
"What has happened has hit the community for six, knocked the stuffing out of the village," he said. | |
"I have lived here all my life - 80-odd years. I feel very upset about this." | |
'Sorting out violence' | |
Some villagers said there had previously been trouble at the hostel. | |
Susan Gibbs, 71, said: "Police seem to be here every other night to sort out the violence. | |
"We've even had people sleeping rough overnight in the hedge rows." | |
Another villager added: "The village didn't want the halfway house. There's quite a lot of elderly people here and they were all against it. It started up about two years ago." | |
Police referral | Police referral |
A spokesman for Caerphilly council confirmed the hotel is used as temporary accommodation for homeless people. | A spokesman for Caerphilly council confirmed the hotel is used as temporary accommodation for homeless people. |
In a statement the spokesman said: "The authority is fully co-operating with Gwent Police as part of their ongoing investigations." | In a statement the spokesman said: "The authority is fully co-operating with Gwent Police as part of their ongoing investigations." |
The IPCC said it is investigating the incident. | |