Elderly man arrested on suspicion of murder after wife dies in sheltered housing

An 87-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after police found the body of his wife at their extra care housing flat in Cambridgeshire.

Police questioned Brendan Constant at the Poppyfields complex on 22 August after receiving a call expressing concern for the welfare of the couple. He has since been released on conditional bail.

A statement from Cambridgeshire Police read: “A post mortem examination on a woman from Eynesbury has proved inconclusive.

“The body of Jean Constant, 86, was discovered following reports of concern for her and a man at a property in Chapman Way at just after 5pm on Monday.

“The post mortem, carried out by Dr Nat Cary at Peterborough City Hospital, failed to find a definitive cause of death and further tests and examinations will now be carried out.

“An 87-year-old man from Eynesbury arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on conditional bail until 4 October.”

When police arrived at the complex they discovered the body of Ms Constant and also found that her husband had sustained serious injuries.

The retired company director was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge before being taken into police custody.

The couple, who married in 1955, sold their £400,000 three-bedroom family home and moved into sheltered housing after Ms Constant suffered ill health.

She was admitted to hospital and had spent time at a care home before returning to their flat in St Neots, Eynesbury.

Refurbished in 2015, Poppyfields offers a range of 34 one-bedroom properties with access to a wide variety of on-site facilities. These include: a lounge, restaurant, hairdressers, hobbies room and a guest room for visiting friends and family.

The sheltered housing complex is managed by Hanover Housing Association and provides personal and respite care for people aged 65 and over.

A spokesman for Hanover said: “Obviously the incident has been deeply shocking for residents and staff. We don’t know all the circumstances and are working with the authorities while they carry out their investigations.

“Our sympathies are very much with the family and friends of those involved.”

Poppyfields was rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2016.