'Hysterical' mother of girl, 8, killed in 'domestic incident' yells 'they stabbed my baby', neighbours reveal

Ella Wills21 January 2018

The distraught mother of an eight-year-old girl who was stabbed to death was heard screaming "they stabbed my baby", neighbours have told.

Murder detectives said she died in hospital a short time after being discovered seriously hurt at a bungalow on Saturday.

Others nearby said they heard screams coming from the house, it was reported.

West Midlands Police said the man, 54, was also taken to hospital with a stab wound to the stomach.

A man, 54, has been arrested after the girl was killed, police said
PA

He is in a stable condition and will be questioned "in due course" over the incident in Valley View, a residential street on the edge of the town.

Police were called to the scene at 9.15pm and on Sunday the home was being searched by forensics experts in the cordoned off, one-story dwelling.

Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, from WMP's homicide unit, said: "We are treating this as a domestic incident and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the child's death.

"Our family liaison team are supporting the family of the little girl, who are naturally devastated by her death. Our thoughts remain with them."

Neighbours said they were stunned at the news of the child's death
PA

Neighbour Graham Greatrex, 74, told the MailOnline he spoke with the child's mother who said, "They stabbed my baby".

The woman was "hysterical", according to Mr Greatrex.

Another woman, Dannie Meegan, who lives a couple of doors away from the home reportedly said she could "hear the screams".

While others said they were stunned at the news that a child had died.

Police were called to the scene at 9.15pm and forensics experts searched the home on Sunday
PA

Bob Weir said he had initially thought the incident was drug-related.

Mr Weir, 72, added that a middle-aged man lived at the now sealed-off property, apparently on his own.

The pensioner told reporters: "I didn't hear until this morning what it was and I was absolutely shocked - I didn't know the bloke who lived there and he hadn't lived there long, maybe six months, if that.

"There were police cars both sides of the road, ambulances... all sorts. I thought it was something to do with drugs.

"I didn't know there were any kids in there. I thought he just lived on his own. I never saw a girl or a woman there."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "I only knew the guy to say hello to and I think he was married and was living there on his own.

"I didn't hear anything before the police got here.

"It's really sad. This is not the sort of area where you hear of anybody being stabbed."

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