Murder suspect 'to be assessed'

Advertisement

Councillors Mark Whitcutt and Debbie Wilcox speak of the shock felt by the community of Maesglas in Newport

A woman under police guard in hospital on suspicion of murdering her four-year-old daughter, is to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, police said.

The 34-year-old, named locally as Zoe David, was arrested after the body of Zoe-Anne was found by police at their home in Newport, south Wales on Friday.

Ms David was taken to hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.

Meanwhile community leaders have called for "calm" after Zoe-Anne's death.

Zoe-Anne's body was found in her bedroom by police after they were called by an ambulance crew who were treating her mother at a house in Bideford Close in Maesglas, Newport on Friday lunchtime.

Ms David, who has an older son, was arrested and taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital.

It was a sombre and reflective meeting and people took the time to discuss things thoroughly Councillor Debbie Wilcox

Gwent Police said questioning of Ms David would not begin until she was released from hospital.

Psychiatric evaluation to determine her state of mind would also take place, a police spokesman said.

People in the community have spoken of their shock, and governors at Maesglas Primary School, where the girl is understood to have been a pupil, were called to an emergency meeting at Newport Civic Centre.

Local councillor Debbie Wilcox, a councillor for the Gaer ward, issued a call for calm after the meeting.

She issued a brief joint statement on behalf of all three county councillors who represent the area.

Among the tributes were teddies

"We feel very strongly that we want to express our shock and grief about what has happened," Ms Wilcox said.

"We also want to express our condolences to family members and also the parents and staff and head teacher at Maesglas Primary School.

"Anne Carlyle, the head teacher here, will now be the focal point and the main person who has to deal with this situation in the school."

She said school governors and representatives of the education authority had been given a "general briefing" on the situation by the police.

"It was appropriate that everybody had the opportunity to speak and to listen and we were given time to reflect on the whole situation.

"It was a sombre and reflective meeting and people took the time to discuss things thoroughly."

She said she was unable to be more specific about what was discussed in the meeting.

Examination

Meanwhile, a forensic examination of the property is being carried out and a post mortem examination will be held on Monday.

Police, who are carrying out house-to-house inquiries, said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and are informing family members.

Two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle attended the incident, which was reported about 1200 BST on Friday.

Neighbours have described Zoe-Ann as a "lovely little girl" who was often outside playing with her friends.