Spenlove Close death shock for Abingdon neighbourhood

Police, paramedics and a forensics officer were called to Spenlove Close, off Dunmore Road, in Abingdon shortly before 3pm last Thursday (February 8).

At least five police cars and two ambulances descended on Spenlove Close on Thursday.

A woman in her 50s was found dead in her flat and a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder. 

Police confirmed on Saturday he had been released on bail.

The force has stressed that while the man had been arrested on suspicion of murder, the woman’s death was still being treated as ‘unexplained’.

Local Policing Area Commander for South Oxfordshire & Vale of White Horse, Supt Lewis Prescott-Mayling said: “We are confident that there is not any risk to the wider community and we are not looking for anybody else in connection with this incident."

The arrest for murder in relation to the woman's death has the Abingdon neighbourhood in shock. 

Shocked neighbours say a ‘murder’ in the heart of their quiet community shows “it could happen anywhere”.

It has left residents of the brick apartment blocks in the close off Dunmore Road in a state of “massive shock”.

Richard King, 61, who has lived there since 1989, said he didn’t think it was the kind of estate where a ‘murder’ could happen.

He told the Oxford Mail: “It’s a massive shock to hear.

“It’s a lovely quiet area. You never hear any screaming matches or anything. It shows it could happen anywhere.

“I’m 61 and she was in 50s… that’s terrible.”

A man, who lives in the block where the incident happened, said police wouldn’t tell him what had happened.

“The first thing I saw was loads of police at around 3pm,” said the man, who asked not to be named.

“They came into our block but wouldn’t say what had happened. It’s a real shock. We just keep to ourselves here.”

An elderly couple on the estate told this newspaper forensics had still been at the scene Friday morning.

The husband, who also asked to remain anonymous, said: “I went and asked what was going on, and the police officer said there had been an incident but there was no risk of harm to anybody else.

“We heard from someone else that a man had been arrested and forensics are still here this morning.”

Police have told residents in the close there is no risk to the wider community.

Supt Lewis Prescott-Mayling, local policing area commander for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, said: “There will be officers remaining at the location in the coming days while our investigation continues.”

It is the second 'murder' arrest to rock the county this week. 

Police also arrested a 52-year-old man.