Indian-origin woman found murdered at her home in UK

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Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : May 23 2016 | 5:07 PM IST
An Indian-origin woman was found murdered in a pool of blood at her family estate in south England, leading to the arrest of her husband.
The body of 38-year-old Sonita Nijhawanwas discovered at the house in the posh St. George's Hill area of Weybridge on Saturday morning in what is being described as a possible murder-suicide.
A 46-year-old man arrested on suspicion of her murder has been named locally as her husband Sanjay Nijhawan.
Their four-year-old son is believed to have witnessed the murder and his father was also reportedly found with serious injuries after attempting to slash himself with a knife.
A post-mortem on Sonita has given a preliminary cause of death as head and neck injuries.
"The investigation into this tragic incident is still in the very early stages but at this time I believe this to be an isolated incident, with no wider threat to the community," senior investigating officerfrom the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, Detective chief inspector Jason Taylor, said.
An unnamed relative reportedly visited the house after receiving alarming text messages and called paramedics to the house.
Police were called to the property just after 10 AM on Saturday and a man was rushed to hospital for treatment.
According to local reports, the couple had spent three years building the 2-million-pound home and had moved in only a fortnight ago. Their neighbours described them as a seemingly happy couple.
Sanjay worked as an investment banker in London and Sonita was a co-director of three care homes along with her father Chander Parkash and brother Amit.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the 'Sun' newspaper: "It was heartbreaking. I came back from an errand and saw Sonita's father on the drive. He was in tears and their little boy was with him.
"I saw the ambulance and went over to ask what happened. I thought Sonita had fallen over or something but her father said she'd been killed. Their little boy was asking repeatedly, 'Where's mummy? Where's mummy?'
"I just put my arm around him and said, 'Mummy will be back soon.
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First Published: May 23 2016 | 5:07 PM IST

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