A 13-year-old schoolgirl has been charged with murder after a mother-of-three died in a house fire in Wellingborough – she will appear at Northampton magistrates’ court tomorrow
A 13-year-old has been charged with murder after a mother-of-three was found dead following a house fire.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is also accused of arson with attempt to endanger life following the discovery of a woman’s body, believed to be Marta Bednarczyk, 43, after the blaze.
The incident took place at a property in Newcomen Road, Wellingborough on Monday morning and the girl will appear at Northampton magistrates’ court tomorrow.
“A 13-year-old girl has tonight (Tuesday, March 11) been charged with the murder of a woman in Wellingborough. The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is also charged with arson with attempt to endanger life,” said Northants Police said.
“She was arrested on Monday following the discovery of a body in a house in Newcomen Road, shortly after 3am that morning. Formal identification has yet to be confirmed, but she is believed to be 43-year-old mother-of-three Marta Bednarczyk.”
The force said that the victim’s preliminary cause of death is believed to be from a “sharp force injury”, with the woman found dead at the scene and a police cordon remains in place at the property.
“A forensic post-mortem investigation, which took place today at Leicester Royal Infirmary, gave the preliminary cause of death as being a result of sharp force injury,” said a police spokesperson. “Police and firefighters had attended the address after reports came in of a fire at the property. Inside, police officers found Marta’s body and paramedics sadly declared her dead at the scene at 3.29am. A scene guard remains in place tonight and police are asking people to avoid the immediate area.”
Detective Chief Insp Johnny Campbell, the senior investigating officer from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said that the thoughts of of the police are with the family of the victim. “This evening we have formally charged a 13-year-old Wellingborough girl with murder, and arson, and she will appear before Northampton Magistrates Court at 10am tomorrow,” he stated.
“I want to take a moment to thank the many police officers and staff who are working and continue to work tirelessly on this investigation since the very tragic events of early yesterday morning. And, in particular, all our thoughts are with Marta’s family who have been fully co-operative throughout what has been a devastating couple of days for them. Given the developments this evening, we will be making no further comment at this time.”