Everything we know as woman charged with murder after Newton Aycliffe ‘stabbing'

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7 hours ago

A woman has been charged with murder after a fatal 'stabbing' in Newton Aycliffe.
Patricia Hewitt, 41, of Newton Aycliffe, is due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Monday, August 18.
Emergency services were called to a property on Bakewell Place on Wednesday (August 13), after reports that a 56-year-old woman had suffered stab wounds.
Despite their efforts, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
A 41-year-old woman was arrested at another address in Newton Aycliffe a short time later. She was taken into custody on suspicion of murder.
A CSI officer at the cordon on Bakewell Place on Friday (Image: ADAM FOSTER) A cordon was erected outside a bungalow on Bakewell Place overnight on Wednesday, with Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) teams arriving on Thursday morning.
CSI officers in white suits were seen bringing brown evidence bags out of a bungalow.
The cordon remained in place on Friday, where a CSI officer could be seen taking photographs in the front garden of the property.
A second cordon was also in place throughout Thursday on Fenhall Green and Well House Drive, about a ten-minute walk away, after the alleged murder.
CSI officers were seen searching a grassed area, bushes and the yard of a house on Thursday. This cordon had been removed on Friday.
Durham Police confirmed the cordons were linked, and it was being treated as an isolated incident.
CSI officers entering the bungalow on Bakewell Place (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) On Thursday, residents of Bakewell Place spoke of their shock at the incident.
Joshua Welsh said: 'It's a massive shock, you never expect something like this on your estate. There were kids playing out.
'There were four ambulances and six police cars last night. One fast response paramedic car and a critical care car from the Great North Air Ambulance. It happened about 7.30pm. A tow truck took a car away, though I couldn't see what it was.
'The police cordon was up all night, and CSI got here about 9.30am this morning.'
His partner Nicola Walton added: 'It's a massive shock, it really scared me.'
CSI officers searching bushes at the second cordon (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) At the cordon on Well House Drive on Thursday, a resident who did not wish to be named told The Northern Echo the incident 'scared' them.
They said: 'It's unusual to see police along this stretch. There's been police on the estate in the last year for various things, but never here.
'I've got young children as well, and it's scared me.'
On Friday, floral tributes had been left at the bungalow on Bakewell Place.
Colourful bouquets were slotted through the fence of a bungalow, which remained cordoned off.
Floral tributes had been left at the cordon on Bakewell Place on Friday (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO) In a moving tribute, one person wrote: 'My heart is broken. I can't believe the news. You were and will always be the kindest woman I know, not a bad bone in you.
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'I will never forget our bat experience and how you loved crispy bacon. RIP.'
Durham Police reminded the public that this is an active case and the public is asked not to speculate on the circumstances or anyone involved.
Doing so could put members of the public in Contempt of Court, which can carry a prison sentence.