Policeman finds parents murdered in Birmingham

Police investigating the murder of a married couple have pledged to work "around the clock" to catch those responsible for the "horrendous crime".

Avtar Singh Kolar, 62 and his wife Carole, 58, were found dead at a house in Birmingham this morning by their policeman son.

Detective Superintendent Richard Baker said: "We currently have over 60 detectives from West Midlands Police CID along with a lot of our uniform colleagues working around the clock to catch the offenders responsible for this and bring them to justice.

"I can assure the local communities and the family that we will catch the people who have done this horrendous crime."

Mr Baker said the couple's bodies were discovered in the Handsworth Wood area of Birmingham by one of their four sons, who is a serving officer with West Midlands Police.

Mr Baker said: "It was obvious from the scene the couple had been assaulted and had more than likely died of their injuries."

He added forensic post-mortem examinations were yet to take place but would be carried out either tomorrow or the following day.

The couple's police officer son discovered the bodies at 8am today at the house in Friary Road when his parents failed to answer the phone, Mr Baker added.

"At 7.15 last night a family member spoke to Carole and there were no issues. At 8am this morning their son went round to find the couple dead at the scene."

He said the couple have four grown-up children and eight grandchildren and that this is a very difficult time for the "close-knit, loving family".

Mr Baker went on: "We're appealing for anybody who may have seen or heard anything suspicious within the Friary Road area of Handsworth Wood to come forward with any information they have, and please can I stress that any information could prove vital to coming to a very quick and swift conclusion to this inquiry.

"I'm absolutely convinced that local people within the area of Handsworth Wood have that vital bit of information that will lead to the identity of these offenders and bring them to justice as quickly as we possibly can."

Mr Baker added: "We are in the really early stages of the investigation and we are keeping an open mind about a possible motive."

When asked if it might be a revenge attack linked to their son's police work, he said: "We are looking at that as a possibility but we have no information to suggest it is the case at this stage."

He said the couple, who had been married for 40 years, had lived in the Handsworth Wood area for most of their lives and were heavily involved in the care of their grandchildren.

He appealed for information from anyone who saw or heard something unusual in the area over the past two days, although detectives have no information that anything significant occurred at the scene before this morning.

Mr Baker, who is leading the inquiry, went on: "The local community so far - and the family - have been extremely supportive and forthcoming in what they are telling us and how they are co-operating with us.

"We will catch the people responsible but we would like to make that appeal for information.

"We have a full team of experts and forensic scientists at the address. It is very early days and we don't want to miss any opportunity."

He said officers were keeping an open mind about what kind of weapon was used.

Acting Superintendent Sean Russell said incidents such as these could have a "massive impact" on the local community and said the force would be using Twitter and Facebook to reach out to residents.

"The community is likely to know who is responsible for this. Our position is that we want to make sure our community feels reassured," he added.

Five police vans were parked close to the couple's semi-detached home this afternoon as forensic examination continued.

Police said their search would focus on the outside of the building before moving inside and officers could be seen searching the drains in surrounding streets.

The couple's bodies have not yet been removed from the house.

PA