UK police investigate murder of a 32-year-old woman found dead for seven days

A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was found dead at a flat where her body lay undiscovered for several days.

Officers forced entry to the second-floor property and discovered the 32-year-old victim after concerns were raised for her welfare at 5.20pm on Thursday (20/1).

Nothing could be done to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene in Othello Court, Shakespeare Street, Coventry.

A man known to the victim was arrested at a house in the Bell Green area of the city at 9.15pm last night and remains in police custody on suspicion of murder.

A 67-year-old woman was also arrested from the address on suspicion of assisting an offender after she "frustrated police efforts" to enter the property.

A post mortem is due to take place today (Fri) to establish how the victim, who has not yet been named, died.

West Midlands Police is carrying out local enquiries while CCTV has been seized for analysis and both addresses have been sealed off for forensic examinations.

Coventry Police Chief Inspector Paul Southern, said: “This is truly tragic and our thoughts are with the woman’s family and friends.

"We have assigned a specially trained Family Liaison Officer to support them at this time.

“We suspect the woman may have died several days ago; the last confirmed sighting of her was on Saturday 15 January.

“We’re carrying out house-to-house enquiries at the flats and trawling CCTV, but I’d appeal to anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious there in recent days to get in touch.”

Anyone with information is urged to message police online or call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime ref 20/147159/22.