People living in a block of flats where a 43-year-old woman was found dead last weekend have spoken of their shock.

Police launched a murder investigation after officers found the woman’s body in a first floor flat in The Towers, Lower Mortlake Road, at 2pm on Saturday, November 30.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbours in the 10-floor tower block said they thought the woman was Polish and had a young baby.

Richard Aldred, a gym instructor who lives in a flat on the fourth floor, said the death frightened him.

The 44-year-old, who has lived in the block for 20 years, said: "I feel like these sort of things don't happen round here, so for it to happen in your block three floors below your own flat is really unusual.

"I am shocked, overwhelmed, speechless and a bit frightened now really."

Police believe they know the identity of the woman and are informing her next of kin but formal identification is yet to take place.

A nearby shop owner, 61-year-old Buhas Patel, said the block was swarming with police on Saturday afternoon.

He said: "She would come here every day and she had a young baby, about six months old.

"There were lots and lots of police around which was a bit confusing.

"This sort of thing does not happen around here really."

Another nearby resident, who did not want to be named said police officers seized a black Nissan from the parking area by the privately owned flats.

He said: "The general feeling around here is sort of puzzlement. It is not really what you want happening on your estate.

"The cleaner was asked to come in at the weekend and clean the corridors because there was an overpowering smell as the body had been there for a while."

Today police and forensics were at the block of flats, where it was believed the woman had lived for about three years.

A post-mortem examination was due to take place at Kingston Mortuary yesterday, December 2, and police are treating the death as suspicious.

The Metropolitan Police homicide and major crime command are leading the investigation.

Two men, aged 48 and 21, and two women, both aged 27, have been arrested in connection with the incident and are in police custody.

 

MORE RICHMOND AND TWICKENHAM NEWS