Woman charged with murder of brother and sister, 7 and 11, inside house
A 49-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of two children who were killed inside a house.
Ethan John, 11, and his sister Elizabeth, seven, were both found dead having suffered significant injuries at a property in Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday.
Police discovered their bodies at the house in Flax Street after they had been called to a report of a man in his 40s who had been stabbed at a car wash in nearby Campbell Street.
Veronique John has now been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
She will appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre tomorrow.
The man who was stabbed has now been treated for his injuries and discharged from hospital.
Police say the cause of death of both children will be ‘a matter for an inquest in due course’.
The children’s schools paid tribute to their pupils following their sudden deaths.
Ethan’s school said: ‘Ethan was a wonderful member of our school community. He had impeccable manners and an infectious smile.
‘He will be hugely missed by the staff and pupils alike and will forever be part of our hearts.’
In a tribute to Elizabeth, her school said: ‘Elizabeth was a kind, caring and friendly member of our school family. She was a ray of sunshine who always had a smile on her face.
‘She was everyone’s friend – she was both bright and popular. The loss of Elizabeth is truly devastating for us all and her absence will leave a huge hole within our school community.’
An alleyway and area around the house was cordoned off by police while investigations were carried out.
Detective chief inspector Cheryl Hannan said after the incident: ‘I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering felt by the family and friends of these two children at this time.
‘Specially-trained officers are continuing to support those closest to the children whilst we find out more about what happened yesterday afternoon.
‘I’d like to thank those who have already come forward with information and to the local community who have been respecting the cordon in place on Flax Street.
‘We are solely focussed on finding out what happened to these two children and supporting those affected by this deeply traumatic incident.’
Staffordshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to the force’s recent contact.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.