A 17-YEAR-OLD boy has been charged with murdering an elderly woman in her home.
Irene Dale, in her 70s, was stabbed in the chest at her home in Summergangs Road, east Hull.
Her husband, Allan, also suffered serious stab wounds and is being treated at Hull Royal Infirmary.
Mr Dale, in his 80s, has been speaking to detectives from his hospital bed about what happened.
The boy has been charged with murder and attempted murder and is due to appear at Hull Magistrates' Court today.
Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbings. Detective Chief Inspector Alistair McFarlane, senior investigating officer for Humberside Police, said: "This is very distressing for the family and for the local community. We have specially trained officers supporting the family, who are trying to come to terms with what has happened.
"Officers have also been conducting house-to-house inquiries and have been explaining to local residents what has happened and telling them we are not looking for anyone else."
Police said the boy is known to the couple but would not confirm the relationship.
Officers were called to the house at 3.30am on Saturday by paramedics. A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Dale died from stab wounds to the chest.
Scenes of crimes officers remained at the house yesterday as investigations continued.
Det Chief Insp McFarlane said: "The offence has taken place at the house in Summergangs Road. Sadly, the lady in her 70s was pronounced dead at the scene.
"A man in his 80s had suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition. He had also suffered stab wounds.
"He is conscious and officers have been speaking to him about what has happened.
"The boy was arrested outside Primark in Hull city centre."
An area outside Primark, in Carr Lane, was cordoned off for most of Saturday.
The boy was taken to Clough Road police station, where he was questioned by detectives before being charged with murder and attempted murder yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, neighbours have spoken of their shock.
Keith Grewar, who lives in Summergangs Road, said: "I sometimes talked to them and did some gardening for them from time to time.
"They seemed like a really nice couple.
"They used to clean the Crown pub, just down the road, and only gave that up a couple of years ago.
"I can't believe what has happened, you just don't expect it.
"When I woke up the police were about.
"This is normally a quiet area and nothing like this has happened here before."
Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said she could not believe what had happened on her street.
She said: "I was up early for work at 5.15am when it happened.
"It was strange to see police everywhere.
"I didn't know the couple personally but it is a big shock to everyone on the street.
"I have seen the man cutting his hedge on a few occasions and he seemed like a perfectly nice gentleman.
"You just don't expect something like this to happen on your doorstep."
• Update: Boy appears in court on murder charge
