Man charged with murder of elderly couple

Detectives investigating the deaths of an elderly couple found in a flat charged a man with murder.

The bodies of Rosemary Windle, 72, and her partner Maurece Smith, 71, were discovered on Monday afternoon at their home in Torquay, Devon.

Odai Salah, 28, of Windsor Road, Torquay, was charged with the murders of Ms Windle and an unnamed man, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

A spokesman said Salah was being held in custody and would appear at Torquay Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Sources close to the investigation said one of the murder charges related to Mr Smith's death.

Mr Smith has not yet been formally identified as police are awaiting the outcome of tests but the family of Ms Windle paid tribute to him.

A statement issued by one of Ms Windle's sons, on behalf of the family, said: "I can only hope that if anyone has any information that they come forward to assist the police in their investigation.

"I would also like to thank all of the local people for their kind words regarding my mother as a person and my mum and Maurece as a couple."

Police were called to Cumberland House, in Warren Road, at 2.45pm on Monday after concerns were raised about the pair's welfare as they had last been seen alive on Thursday.

Officers arrested a second man in his early 20s on suspicion of assisting an offender and he has been released on bail.

Police also released images of a 2008 Honda Civic, registered in Torquay, which was captured on CCTV in the Warren Road area of the town over the four days before the couple's bodies were found.