Man charged with murder of woman, 71, after alleged assault in cemetery
A 66-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a 71-year-old woman who died after allegedly being assaulted in a cemetery.
Martin Suter has been charged with the murder of Ann Blackwood, who was pronounced dead at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington, Hampshire, on Monday.
Suter, of Portsmouth Road, Lee-on-the-Solent, has been held in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 27.
A Hampshire police spokesman said: ‘A 66-year-old man has been charged with murder by detectives investigating the death of a 71-year-old woman at Crofton Cemetery in Stubbington on Monday 24 July.
‘We were called to Lychgate Green at 3.47pm after the woman, who we can now name as Ann Blackwood from Lee-On-The-Solent, had been assaulted in the cemetery.
‘She was treated initially by police officers and our colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service, but was pronounced dead a short time later.
‘Following a thorough investigation, Martin Suter of Portsmouth Road in Lee-on-the-Solent has been charged with murder.
‘He has been remanded to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Thursday 27 July.’
Those living nearby were shaken and baffled by the incident.
An elderly grandmother, who was childminding her two grandsons at the time, said: ‘I saw there was an ambulance and emergency services there… and they were performing CPR on a woman.’
A female Stubbington resident in her 60s said: ‘We live in such a peaceful area with many young families and retirees.
‘You never expect something so horrific to happen so close to home especially in such a friendly community.’
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