Murder enquiry launched after woman's body found in Coventry flat

Police have launched a murder enquiry after finding a woman’s body at a flat in Coventry.

Officers forced entry to the second-floor property in Othello Court, Shakespeare Street, at 5.20pm yesterday (20 Jan) after concerns were raised for the occupant who hadn’t been heard from for several days.

Inside, they found a 32-year-old woman. Police say could be done to save her.

A post mortem examination is due to take place today.

At 9.15pm officers arrested a man from a house in the Bell Green area of the city.

The 36-year-old man – who is known to the victim – remains in police custody on suspicion of murder.

A woman, aged 67, was also arrested from the address on suspicion of assisting an offender after it’s alleged she frustrated the police's efforts to enter the property.

Officers are now carrying out local enquiries, have already seized some CCTV for analysis and have sealed off both addresses for a forensic examination.

Coventry Police Chief Inspector Paul Southern, said: “This is truly tragic and our thoughts are with the woman’s family and friends. We have assigned a specially trained Family Liaison Officer to support them at this time.

“We suspect the woman may have died several days ago; the last confirmed sighting of her was on Saturday 15 January.

“We’re carrying out house-to-house enquiries at the flats and trawling CCTV, but I’d appeal to anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious there in recent days to get in touch.”