Woman charged with man's retirement home murder

News imageBBC A yellow police van and two white ones parked outside a two-storey red brick retirement home. One of the vans has crime scene investigation written on the sideBBC
Police were called to Cedar House in the early hours of Tuesday

A woman has been charged with murdering a 77-year-old man at a supported living retirement home.

Harry Heslop died after an incident at Cedar House in Foxwood Drive, Stockton, at about 02:45 BST on Tuesday, Cleveland Police said.

Rebecca Hackett, 41 and from Stockton, has been charged with murder and possession of a bladed article and is due to appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court later.

A second woman, aged 54, remains on bail while inquiries continue, the force said.

Det Ch Insp John Bonner said the force's thoughts were "firmly with Harry's family and loved ones at what is an extremely difficult and distressing time for them".

He thanked the local community for "their patience and support" and said police would be in the area to offer reassurance.

"As a criminal investigation is ongoing, we would ask people not to speculate as this may prejudice legal proceedings," Bonner said.

Housing association Thirteen Group, which runs Cedar House, previously said it was "deeply saddened" by the incident.

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