Woman dies in Wolverhampton stabbing

A woman was stabbed to death and a man left fighting for his life in Wolverhampton today. Detectives have sealed off a flat in Whitmore Reans and were this afternoon scouring the scene for clues about the double stabbing.

Both the 36-year-old woman and the man, in his 30s, were found unconscious when police arrived at a flat off Newhampton Road West.

Neighbours today said the pair were a couple and had a baby together.

More pictures from the scene to the right

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbings.

Officers were called to a row of flats near Gibbs Street and Coleman Street at 7.45am following reports of a disturbance.

After officers found the couple collapsed inside, they began to carry out medical treatment before paramedics arrived but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man was this afternoon fighting for his life at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

Police are now carrying out door-to-door inquiries to piece together what happened to the couple, who are believed to be Kurdish.

Det Insp Gordon Roberts, from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, said: "A major investigation has been launched into the circumstances of the woman's death and how the man came to sustain his injuries.

"Following initial inquiries we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident at this time.

"A young woman has tragically lost her life and specialist liaison officers are supporting her family at this difficult time," he added.

"We urge anyone who has information that may be of interest to the investigation team to come forward and speak to us at their earliest opportunity."

The block of flats remained sealed off this afternoon while officers continued their inquiries. Specialist forensic officers were trawling the area for clues and a row of police cars lined the street.

One Coleman Street resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he saw emergency services swarming the area at around 8am.

The caretaker, aged in his 50s, said he walked outside the flats and saw paramedics taking the injured man away on a stretcher.

Another Coleman Street resident, a mother in her 20s, added: "I presumed someone had been hurt or even worse killed.

"We were told there had been a nasty incident.

"Everybody keeps themselves to themselves in that block of flats.

"I think they were a Kurdish couple and they had a baby. It doesn't make you feel safe when this sort of thing goes on."

Councillor Zahid Shah lives on Coleman Street. He said today: "This is absolutely shocking. If this is a domestic incident, it makes you think 'what on earth happened in there?'.

"I think more needs to be done to support ethnic minority community when it comes to these sorts of domestic situations. It is something I have raised as a councillor."

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Claire Thomas said: "On arrival crews found a man and a woman who had sustained multiple stab injuries.

"The woman was in cardiac arrest. Police officers at the scene were already administering treatment to both patients. Crews and the medic immediately took over from police and commenced emergency treatment on the woman in an attempt to resuscitate her.

"Sadly, despite efforts nothing could be done to save the woman and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The man was treated on scene before quickly being taken by ambulance on blue lights to hospital.

"Medics were pre-alerted to the arrival of the man who was in a serious condition."

She said the service received the 999 call at 7.50am.

Anyone with information should call Force CID at Bloxwich police station on 0345 113 5000 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

By Richard Woodall