A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing of a grandmother at her picturesque thatched cottage in Hampshire.
Village Tragedy Unfolds
Gilly Livie, a 68-year-old grandmother, was discovered with a critical stab wound to her neck by emergency services at her home in Cheriton, near Alton. Paramedics and police officers were called to the address off the B3046 at approximately 10.30am on Friday, 9 January.
Despite the immediate efforts of the attending medical teams, Mrs Livie was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that the fatal injury was the stab wound to her neck.
Injured Man Detained in Hospital
Officers also located a 39-year-old man from Alton at the cottage. He was found with what were described as life-threatening injuries to his own neck and leg. The man, who police confirm was known to Mrs Livie, was rushed to hospital for urgent treatment.
Today, Monday 19 January, detectives from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary arrested the man on suspicion of Mrs Livie's murder. He remains under police guard in hospital and will be transferred to a police station for questioning once he is deemed medically fit.
Community in Shock Over 'Lovely Woman'
The violent death has sent shockwaves through the close-knit village of Cheriton. One neighbour, who had known Gilly for a decade, described her as a "lovely," gentle, and kind woman who kept free-range chickens.
"The whole village is shocked," the friend told the Daily Mail. "Everyone here is so friendly... It is a life cut short in the most horrendous fashion." She recounted seeing a significant police presence, including a helicopter, on the morning of the incident, initially presuming it was a road accident.
Police have stated that they do not believe there is any wider threat to the local community. However, detectives are urgently piecing together the events that led to the tragedy.
Appeal for Information
Inspector Stuart Ross from the Winchester district praised the community for their patience and reiterated the appeal for information. Investigators are asking anyone with CCTV, dashcam, or any other footage from the Cheriton area between 11pm on Tuesday, 8 January and 11am on Wednesday, 9 January to come forward.
"Detectives continue to work hard to find out exactly what happened to Gilly," Inspector Ross said. Specialist officers are providing support to Mrs Livie's grieving family during this devastating time.
