The woman killed in an alleged axe attack in Dartmouth, Devon, has been named as Rebecca Grass, 46, with Luke Rigby, 38, charged with her murder.
Devon and Cornwall Police were called to a property on Newcomen Road at 9.20pm on Tuesday, where Grass was found unresponsive. A man in his 40s was also taken to hospital with facial injuries.
Charges and court appearance
Rigby, of Dartmouth, will appear before Plymouth Magistrates' Court. He is also charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm over the other victim's wounds, which police said were 'not believed to be life-changing'.
He faces additional charges for assault by beating, a racially aggravated public order offence, and assault on an emergency worker. Rigby remains in custody, and Grass' family is being supported by specialist officers.
Community reaction
While police have not released details of the fatal attack, neighbours reported seeing 'someone with an axe' in the area that night. A local business owner told the Daily Mail: 'Everybody in the town is saying the victim was hit with an axe; it's just sickening if that is the case.'
The incident prompted a major emergency response from police, ambulance, and fire services, with one local describing it as 'mayhem'. Another said she was 'almost run over' as two police vehicles and a white van sped through the town's narrow, winding streets at around 9.45pm.
'I'm shocked. I have never heard of anything like this in Dartmouth. My thoughts are with anyone caught up in this,' a resident added.
Tribute from son
Grass' son, Reece Romeril, set up a fundraiser to ensure she gets a 'send-off the kindest of souls deserves'. He wrote on GoFundMe: 'As many few have been informed, on Wednesday morning I had CID turn up to my work to inform me with some bad news.'
'In Dartmouth, there was a murder of a 46-year-old woman on Tuesday evening… my own mother. How someone can brutally kill my mother in such a horrible way is absolutely terrifying to think about.'
He added: 'Dealing with this is something I would have never expected in life, and times have been difficult lately for sure, my thoughts are with the ones who loved her and my family.' Romeril concluded: 'RIP MUM I love you so much and miss you already.'
