Stourbridge stabbings: Man due to appear in court over attack at family home
A man was due to appear in court over the murder of a mother and son after it emerged he had been helped by members of the family he allegedly stabbed.
Aaron Barley, 23, did not live at the family's home in Greyhound Lane, which was scene of the stabbings in Stourbridge, but had 'been assisted' by the tragic Wilkinson family over the past year.
Barley is accused of stabbing Tracey Wilkinson, 50, and her son Pierce, 13, to death at their family home.
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He is also accused of the attempted murder of 47-year-old Peter Wilkinson who was found with stab wounds.
Mr Wilkinson remains in a stable condition in hospital after suffering serious injuries to his back and chest.
It had been previously claimed Barley, who has no fixed address, had been taken in by the Wilkinson family.
However a statement issued by the Wilkinsons' daughter Lydia, who was away at university when last week's tragedy took place, strenuously denied this.
She confirmed the family had 'assisted' Barley in the past 12 months but that he had 'never lived' at the luxury home.
She added the family did not 'provide refuge for homeless people'.
Lydia's statement said: "Contrary to press reports, the family did not provide refuge for homeless people and the suspect had never lived at the family home, but had been assisted by the family in the past 12 months."
Lydia's statement came just a day after Barley appeared in court charged with double murder and attempted murder.
Barley appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Saturday just after 10am.
He spoke only once during the six-minute hearing after the court clerk asked him to give his name and address.
He said: "Aaron Barley, and I ain't got one (an address)."
Barley had his right arm in a sling and was wearing a green hospital-style gown and trousers.
There was no application for bail on behalf of Barley, who was not asked to enter pleas and appeared to hobble as he left the courtroom.
He was due to appear again at Birmingham Crown Court today and remains in custody.
