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| Mother and son stabbed to death at West Midlands home | Mother and son stabbed to death at West Midlands home |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A mother and her 13-year-old son have been stabbed to death at their home in Stourbridge, police have said. | |
| The woman’s husband was seriously injured in the attack on Thursday, West Midlands police said. Local residents named the victims as businessman Peter Wilkinson, 47, his wife Tracey, 47, and their son Piers, describing them as a lovely family. | |
| Police said they were not in a position to confirm the identities but said that next of kin had been informed. | |
| The son who was killed is understood to have attended a local school, and the couple’s older daughter is believed to have been away at university. Peter Wilkinson runs Hill and Smith, a firm that manufactures safety barriers. The company declined to comment. | The son who was killed is understood to have attended a local school, and the couple’s older daughter is believed to have been away at university. Peter Wilkinson runs Hill and Smith, a firm that manufactures safety barriers. The company declined to comment. |
| A man in his 20s, who is believed to have been known to the victims, was arrested in a nearby street on suspicion of murder and wounding. He was stopped in a Land Rover stolen from outside the family’s house. | A man in his 20s, who is believed to have been known to the victims, was arrested in a nearby street on suspicion of murder and wounding. He was stopped in a Land Rover stolen from outside the family’s house. |
| Supt Lee Kendrick, of Dudley police, said: “What has unfolded here this morning is horrific and heartbreaking. Police and ambulance were confronted with an awful scene: a man, woman and boy all with very serious stab injuries. The woman and boy were found in the house and the man in the garden. | Supt Lee Kendrick, of Dudley police, said: “What has unfolded here this morning is horrific and heartbreaking. Police and ambulance were confronted with an awful scene: a man, woman and boy all with very serious stab injuries. The woman and boy were found in the house and the man in the garden. |
| “Tragically, there was nothing that could be done to save the woman – and her son later died in hospital from his injuries. Our hearts go out to the victims’ family and friends at this devastating news,” he said. | “Tragically, there was nothing that could be done to save the woman – and her son later died in hospital from his injuries. Our hearts go out to the victims’ family and friends at this devastating news,” he said. |
| He said the suspect was not a relative but may have been living at the house. “We don’t think this was a burglary or a robbery.” | He said the suspect was not a relative but may have been living at the house. “We don’t think this was a burglary or a robbery.” |
| One wellwisher who left flowers said she believed Wilkinson helped the young man out. | One wellwisher who left flowers said she believed Wilkinson helped the young man out. |
| Police and ambulance services were called to the property in the Norton area of Stourbridge just after 8am. The suspect was arrested about half an hour later in Norton Street. | Police and ambulance services were called to the property in the Norton area of Stourbridge just after 8am. The suspect was arrested about half an hour later in Norton Street. |
| West Midlands fire service said it was called to make the vehicle safe after a police pursuit, which ended with smoke coming from the Land Rover Discovery after it crashed into a brick wall. | West Midlands fire service said it was called to make the vehicle safe after a police pursuit, which ended with smoke coming from the Land Rover Discovery after it crashed into a brick wall. |
| Tracey Wilkinson was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital but could not be saved. Piers is understood to have attended a secondary school in Stourbridge. | |
| A spokeswoman for the school said: “We know there has been a serious incident which took place in the Norton area this morning. We believe the family involved had connections with the school. There are no further details available at the moment.” | |
| His father was taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham, where he is being treated for stab wounds to his chest and back. Police said he was in a serious but stable condition. | |
| A West Midlands ambulance spokesman said: “Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, it became apparent at the scene that nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed deceased. | A West Midlands ambulance spokesman said: “Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, it became apparent at the scene that nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed deceased. |
| “The teenage boy was in cardiac arrest and received specialist trauma care and advanced life support. He was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital with treatment continuing en route. | “The teenage boy was in cardiac arrest and received specialist trauma care and advanced life support. He was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital with treatment continuing en route. |
| “Sadly, shortly after arrival in A&E and despite the best efforts of ambulance staff and hospital medics, he was also confirmed dead.” | “Sadly, shortly after arrival in A&E and despite the best efforts of ambulance staff and hospital medics, he was also confirmed dead.” |
| Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. They are trying to establish the relationship between the suspect and the family. Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands police on 101. | Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. They are trying to establish the relationship between the suspect and the family. Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands police on 101. |
| The home where the attacks occurred is a large, red-bricked house on which they had lavished time and money restoring. Tracey Wilkinson, understood to have been a talented amateur ballroom dancer, showed her new kitchen to neighbours. | |
| Maggie Planes, who lives nearby, said the couple were security conscious, always shutting the iron gates of their house. She did not know of any lodger staying with the family. | Maggie Planes, who lives nearby, said the couple were security conscious, always shutting the iron gates of their house. She did not know of any lodger staying with the family. |
| A couple living nearby told how they used to see Peter Wilkinson walking his greyhound along the street. A man, who did not want to be named, added: “Peter and Tracey have lived there for about seven or eight years. They’ve got a son who is 13 and a daughter who is in her first year at university. | A couple living nearby told how they used to see Peter Wilkinson walking his greyhound along the street. A man, who did not want to be named, added: “Peter and Tracey have lived there for about seven or eight years. They’ve got a son who is 13 and a daughter who is in her first year at university. |
| “We know them to talk to and say hello to. They were a nice, normal family. They were lovely. We used to go to the same pub as them up the road and they were very friendly.” | “We know them to talk to and say hello to. They were a nice, normal family. They were lovely. We used to go to the same pub as them up the road and they were very friendly.” |