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East Leeds: Garforth in shock at double murder
The community around Garforth’s Kirkby Avenue was left in a “collective state of shock and disbelief” as they struggled to come to terms with the tragedy that unfolded.
Prayers were said at nearby St Mary’s Church on Sunday as residents woke up to the news of the murder investigation on their doorstep.
Neighbours in the surrounding streets said they were stunned following the discovery of the bodies of a young mother and her eight-year-old daughter at their semi-detached home on the quiet estate.
Flowers and tributes were placed at the top of the police cordon on Sunday.
Among them was a tribute on a simple posy of flowers which read “RIP. You will be deeply missed x”
Garforth councillor Mark Dobson told the YEP of the effect the news has had on the community.
He said: “When I heard the news I was shocked and saddened.
“During the course of the evening I heard from lots of residents personally and picked up on social websites that the whole town seems to share a collective state of shock and disbelief.
“Obviously all our thoughts as a community go to the victims of this terrible tragedy and of course their families.
“It has taken the community of Garforth completely aback.”
Garforth councillor Andrea McKenna added: “Things like this don’t happen in Garforth. I was born and bred in that area and I have never known something so sad.
“My heart goes out to the little girl and I am sure the people of Garforth will cope with it well.
“They have got community spirit.”
Residents saw an influx of media crews on their quiet streets and crowds gathered at the police cordon that sealed off the street from Saturday night throughout the day on Sunday.
Neighbours recalled seeing the two little girls playing out in the street with their bikes while the local shopkeeper said the family went into his shop to buy sweets.
He said: “They seemed like such a nice normal family. They would often come in and buy sweets for their children.
“It is a shock and lots of people have been talking about it.
“It is such a quiet neighbourhood.”
Another resident living on Hazlewood Avenue added: “I have lived here for over 40 years. It is quiet and everyone keeps themselves to themselves.
“There has never been anything like this around here in all the time I have been here. It is such a nice estate.”
Resident Audrey Bottomley said: “My friend lives next door to them and when I have gone across, the man has been at his van. I think he is a self-employed plasterer, and he would always say ‘hello’ or ‘good morning’.
“He was out with his children on Christmas Day, they had some new bikes, he loved the children.
“I can’t understand it.
“My friend who lives next door was here at my house – I went to the gate with her when she was leaving and a police car arrived, then another one and there were lots of flashing lights and people running up and down.
“The lady who lived there seemed quite shy and didn’t seem to mix with anyone on the street.
“I am not sure if they were married but they have been there for about four or five years. I don’t think she worked and he sometimes used to go and get the children from school and walk them home.
“A friend said the woman usually goes to her sister’s every Saturday but her car was there all day yesterday.”
Neighbour Matthew Pease, who runs a DIY and builders’ merchants, said the man would come into his shop to buy supplies.
“He seemed a normal guy, a regular plasterer. I would pass him in the street and say hello. I don’t know his background or family, I just knew him through his business and to say hello.”
Janet Hutchinson said she believed the girls were given bikes for Christmas and added: “I last saw the girls riding their bikes on Christmas Day. They just seemed a normal family.
“They had a dog and we had a dog and we used to pass in the street and say hello.
“We are all shocked. You just don’t know what is going on in other houses, do you?”
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
