Police use rubber bullet to arrest man after woman is stabbed to death in village murder

Frances Hubbard PHOTO: Paul Hewitt, Archant

Officers were called to a property in Churchill Place, Brooke, at around 10.30am on Sunday following reports a woman had been stabbed.

They discovered the body of a woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and arrested a man in his 80s on suspicion of murder.

The woman has not been named, but is believed to be Frances Hubbard while the man arrested, who has also not been named, is understood to be her partner Michael.

He was initially detained at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital but has since been discharged and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

There has been speculation that rubber bullets and taser might have been used during the arrest.

A spokesman for Norfolk Police has confirmed taser was not used but said 'officers deployed an Attenuating Energy Projectile (AEP) - commonly referred to as a baton round' during the arrest.

A police cordon remains in place at the property where neighbours have described their shock at what happened.

Deirdre Bannister, 74, who has lived in the area for about 20 years, said: 'She was polite, a lovely lady – always spoke to people. She was very nice. I didn't have much to do with him because he wasn't about the place like she was. He was a big chap. Well over 6ft.

'They have been here about 16 years.'

An 81-year-old man, who did not want to be named, described seeing the victim in the doorway after hearing noises coming from the property.

He said police then turned up, including armed officers, as well as ambulances, the air ambulance and several more police cars.

He described the couple as 'nice'.

A Home Office post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death is due to take place today, while formal identification is yet to take place.

Anyone with information should contact Norfolk Constabulary on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org