Husband, 69, is charged with killing 67-year-old grandmother during coronavirus lockdown after she was found dead at their home during coronavirus lockdown
- Anthony Williams accused of killing wife Ruth, 67, at their semi-detached home
- Couple had lived in their semi-detached home in Brynglas, Cwmbran, Wales
- The grandmother Ruth was taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead
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A husband has been charged of Britain’s first self-isolating murder after his wife was found dead at their home.
Anthony Williams, 69, from Brynglas, Cwmbran, South Wales, is accused of killing his wife Ruth, 67, at their semi-detached property where they had been self isolating amid the coronavirus lockdown.
The grandmother was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead, according to police.
Williams is due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court later today charged with his partner’s murder.
Anthony Williams, 69, is accused of killing wife Ruth (pictured), 67, at their semi where they had been self isolating
One woman neighbour said: ‘This is such a shock. They had lived here for a long time.
‘I hadn’t seen them for a while but everybody around here seems to be in isolation.
‘Police have been here all over the weekend carrying out searches at the home. It’s a real tragedy.’
Another neighbour said: ‘They had a couple of kids and grandchildren. This is just awful.
‘They always seemed like very nice people but we think he had been ill recently. The family can’t even grieve properly together.’
The couple had been self isolating at their home in Brynglas, Cwmbran, South Wales
A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said: ‘Gwent Police received a call to an address in Brynglas, Cwmbran at around 6.50am on Saturday 28 March.
’67-year-old Ruth Williams was found unconscious and unresponsive at the premises. She was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport where she sadly died.
‘A 69-year-old man was arrested, he’s since been charged with murder.’
The attack comes after campaigners warned that the lockdown would make it ‘tougher than normal’ for families at risk of domestic violence.
Rachel Williams, of Stand Up to Domestic Abuse, said: ‘We know there’s a massive influx likely and it will be a pandemic on a pandemic.’
Rachel, who herself was shot by her late husband Darren after years of domestic abuse, said: ‘The perpetrators and the victims would normally spend some parts of the day in work or socialising.
‘That could give the victims breathing space and someone to talk to.
‘The children are also not in school which means they don’t have a safety net – and in some cases a decent meal.
‘Now they’re all sharing their surroundings 24/7 with no breathing space. It will be tougher than normal.’