Retired man, 87, quizzed over murder of his 86-year-old wife at their sheltered housing in Cambridge
Police have arrested Brendan Constant after his wife Jean was found dead
A RETIRED company director of 87 was being quizzed on suspicion of murdering his wife at their sheltered accommodation.
The suspect, named locally as Brendan Constant, 87, was arrested after his wife Jean, 86, was found dead at their flat.
OAP Mr Constant was taken to hospital in a “serious” but stable condition and was taken into custody the following day by detectives.
The couple had been married for 60 years and had been due to celebrate their wedding anniversary next month.
They had lived in the town of St Neots, Cambs., for years but had switched to accommodation for the elderly just four months ago.
RELATED STORIES
Neighbours said Mrs Constant had been unwell recently and had spent two weeks in hospital before being discharged to a nursing home.
One friend said: "They've only been here about four months. Jean was in hospital for a fortnight, I don't know what with.
"After that she went to a nursing home and came back here last Friday.”
A former neighbour, who knew the family for more than 30 years, said: "They moved to St Neots from Dartford in 1980.
"Brendan was a director at a company in Sandy, in Bedforshire.
"We used to see them all the time. They were so active. She was always in the garden and he used to get about even though he had a stick.
"But they just moved out all of a sudden a year ago. I do not know why. I think she (Jean) might have had something wrong with her. I don't know what it was."
Before retiring Jean was in the St Neots branch of the Women's Institute and ran a second hand pottery shop called Mainly Seconds, friends said.
He added: "She was always out and about. They were active lovely people.
"They were always in the garden but we never heard them argue or anything."
The couple's new neighbours described seeing a heavy police activity at around 5.20pm on Monday when Mrs Constant's body was found.
One resident said: "I live on the first floor and looked out of the window last night and saw police and ambulances."
A woman who lives close by and used to work as a cleaner at the block, added: "All I saw was seven police cars and five ambulances outside the block.
"I went over there and they were all talking about CPR. I heard one person say everything was fine when the nurse saw them last."
The 34 sheltered flats, known as Poppyfields, caters for residents over 55s.
An on-site manager looks after the upkeep of the buildings and gardens, as well as providing help and support to residents who need it.
A spokesman for Housing provider Hanover who manage the day to day running of the Poppyfields estate said: “Obviously the incident yesterday is deeply shocking. 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.”
Cambridgeshire Police confirmed they are not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident. A post mortem was due to take place today.
The oldest killer is British legal history is Herbert Powell, who was 87, when he stabbed wife of more than 60 years, Irene, 86, in her sleep at their home in Dartmouth, Devon, in 2005.
The man believed to be the couple's son John Constant, 56, of Didcott. Oxfordshire, last night said: "No comment".
The couple’s other son Simon Constant, 54, today said: “I'm not making any statements at the minute, I would be appreciative if the press could just leave us to grieve."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368