Man, 19, arrested after double death at Walsall home is released without charge

The 19-year-old man's stay in custody was extended this morning after a superintendent authorised a warrant of further detention by 12 hours from 5am.

The arrest followed the discovery of two bodies at a house in Hollemeadow Avenue, Blakenall, at 3.50am yesterday morning following a call from the ambulance service reporting that two people had been stabbed.

A man, aged 32, and a 29-year-old woman - believed to be former partners - were pronounced dead at the scene and a murder enquiry has been launched by West Midlands Police.

They have been named locally as Hayley Stringer, a mother of three, and her estranged husband David Stringer. Neighbours say the pair broke up a short time ago.

Three children - girls aged 11, eight and seven - were sleeping in the house when officers arrived and were not injured; they are being cared for by friends.

Detectives have confirmed that the 19-year-old man who has now been released from police custody without charge was at the house when officers arrived yesterday.

Forensic post mortem examinations will be conducted later today. The results of these are expected to be released some time tomorrow.

While the precise cause of death is yet to be established, both are believed to have died as a result of knife injuries. A weapon was recovered from inside the property.

House to house enquiries have been conducted along with a forensic examination of the terraced house. Further searches for clues will be conducted throughout today.

Police patrols in the area have been stepped up to reassure worried locals and to allow people to pass information on to officers.

Specialist family liaison officers are supporting the families of both of the deceased.

Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield, from Force CID, said: "Two families have experienced a tragedy and three young girls have been robbed of a mother. Our thoughts remain with them today.

"So that we can provide much needed answers for them and the local community a large team of detectives, forensic examiners and others from West Midlands Police are working really hard to get to the bottom of what happened.

"We're keeping an open mind as to what took place inside the house and are exploring a number of possibilities.

"If we're to get to the truth I'd ask anyone with information which may move the investigation forward to call us. Please don't assume that someone will have already told us what you know or what you've heard."

Neighbours have spoken of their shock after the tragedy.

Graham Johnson, aged 49, said: "I woke up and realised something had happened when the police were outside. I'm shocked. The woman who lives there was only a young girl. I spoke to her now and again."

A 39-year-old woman, who lives in Hollemeadow Avenue, said: "The first I knew anything had happened was when police arrived. They used to live together but they split up about three weeks ago.

"They were really quiet. They kept themselves to themselves."

Raman Patel, who runs Ram's Superstore in Hollemeadow Avenue, said: "I'm shocked. I've never known anything like this to happen here.

"They used to come in the shop. They were nice people."

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.