Police have launched a murder investigation after a woman’s body and a seriously injured man were found at a house in Essex.
The victims, both in their 50s, were discovered by police in response to reports of an assault at an address in Chelmsford on Sunday.
The injured man has been taken to hospital where he is undergoing treatment for "serious life-threatening injuries".
Pauline Maris, who lives opposite the retirement bungalow where the incident took place, said she heard the police arrive on Pines Road at around 1.30am.
"In the early hours of the morning I heard a woman shouting 'leave him alone', then I heard other shouting. But I couldn't see anything," she said.
"All the police arrived at about 1.30am - I have never seen so many. There were two ambulances and police dogs too.”
Marion Smith who lives in a bungalow a few doors away from the scene said the couple have lived at the property for three or four years.
"They were very friendly and had been married for 25 years. I am hoping he is all right, he is very ill in hospital - it is such a shame about her."
A local man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
An Essex Police spokesman said: “Officers were contacted at 1.30am this morning with reports of a man being assaulted inside a house in Pines Road.
"Units attended to find a woman aged in her fifties deceased and a man, also in his fifties, with serious life-threatening injuries.
"A 31-year-old man from Chelmsford has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody.The injured man is currently at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate on 101.
