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Woman murdered and suspect dies after Taser arrest in Welsh valleys Woman murdered and suspect dies after Taser arrest in Welsh valleys
(about 9 hours later)
A woman has been killed and a man has died after police used a Taser on him during an incident at a hotel in the Welsh valleys. A man has died after police fired a Taser at him following a horrific attack on a young woman in a bedroom at a hostel for single homeless people in the Welsh valleys.
Officers were called to the Sirhowy Arms, which runs as a B&B and provides accommodation for homeless people, to deal with a report of a man attacking a woman. They discharged a stun gun at a suspect and found the woman, who was badly injured. She later died and her death is being treated as murder. The man, 34, who is understood to have recently been released from prison, is believed to have bitten the 22-year-old woman’s face during the fatal assault.
Meanwhile the man, 34, was arrested but collapsed. Police officers and paramedics tried in vain to save him. When police reached the Sirhowy Arms Hotel in the village of Argoed they fired a Taser to subdue the suspect. He became unresponsive and, despite efforts by police officers and paramedics to revive him, died. Police have not named the man but he has been identified locally as Matthew Williams.
The police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), is investigating. Gwent police said it was treating the death of the woman as murder. It referred the use of the Taser to the police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating.
The incident took place shortly after 1am in Argoed village, between Blackwood and Tredegar in Caerphilly. Neighbours of the hostel claimed that – against the rules – the man had sneaked the victim back to his room for a drink. They said the police were called in the early hours of Thursday morning after suspicious security staff burst into the bedroom because the man was refusing to answer his door.
A Gwent police spokeswoman said: “At 1.23am we were called to an incident at the Sirhowy Arms hotel where it was reported that a man was attacking a woman. On arrival both the male and female were still at the location. A Taser was discharged and a man was arrested. Residents in Argoed, a quiet village near Blackwood in Caerphilly expressed horror. Local councillor and Caerphilly council deputy mayor Leon Gardiner said: “Everyone is totally shocked. Argoed is a lovely place to live.”
“The woman was located with injuries and has since been pronounced deceased. While under arrest, the man became unresponsive. Officers and paramedics administered first aid but he has since been pronounced deceased. The matter has been referred to the IPCC. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, and an investigation is under way.” Most neighbours said the hostel, which puts up homeless people on behalf of Caerphilly council, did not cause too much trouble in the village. Some, however, said they were sometimes disturbed by residents drinking and smoking in the nearby woods and occasionally came across people sleeping rough in hedgerows because they could not get a bed.
Police officers in forensic suits were combing the building on Thursday morning. One neighbour said: “We don’t have too many problems. The people who live there are not allowed to drink or smoke in the hotel so they go down to the woods to do it. Sometimes there are police vans outside if there has been a fight or something but despite that it’s still a quiet street.”
The local councillor and Caerphilly council deputy mayor said Argoed had been “hit for six” by the deaths. “When I went for my paper this morning, I could see the road was closed off and there were police everywhere,” Leon Gardiner said. “When I heard that two people had died, I couldn’t believe it. Everyone is totally stunned by what has happened. It’s a shock because Argoed is a lovely place to live and I’ve never known anything like this to happen here before.” A Gwent police spokeswoman said: “At 1.23am we were called to an incident at the Sirhowy Arms Hotel where it was reported that a man was attacking a woman.
Gardiner said he felt sorry for the hotel’s owners. “It’s a B&B but has been used as a hostel for homeless people. It’s run magnificently.” On arrival both the male and female were still at the location. A Taser was discharged and a man was arrested.
A neighbour of the Sirhowy Arms said: “We’ve never had any problems. The people who live there are not allowed to drink or smoke in the hotel so they go down to the woods to do it. Sometimes there are police vans outside if there has been a fight or something, but despite that it’s still a quiet street.” “The woman was located with injuries and has since been pronounced deceased. Whilst under arrest, the man became unresponsive. Officers and paramedics administered first aid but he has since been pronounced deceased. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, and an investigation is under way.”
The Welsh ambulance service confirmed it had been called to the incident at about 1.30am. It said it sent a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle and crew in an emergency ambulance. A spokeswoman added: “The man and woman were both pronounced dead at the scene.” Police gave no further details about the nature of the woman’s injuries or the pair’s relationship.
A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: “The authority is fully co-operating with Gwent police. We can confirm that the B&B establishment is used by the council for the temporary placement of single homeless people and has been in operation for a number of years.”
Before it was turned into a hostel, the Sirhowy Arms was popular with walkers and cyclists. It was also a thriving local pub.