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Father arrested after boy, 4, stabbed to death
Detectives are continuing to question the father of a four-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Huddersfield.
Ryan Hawkins was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an incident in Royd Street, Slaithwaite, but died a short time later.
His 14-year-old sister, Donna, was also taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary with multiple stab wounds and was said to be in a serious but stable condition after surgery.
Their father, Chris Hawkins was arrested on suspicion of murder and suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody.
A 30-year-old man also arrested has been released without charge, West Yorkshire police said.
Police said a post-mortem examination had shown that Ryan, who had just celebrated his fourth birthday, died of multiple stab wounds.
They added that the two arrested men, aged 30 and 47, remain in police custody at separate police stations in West Yorkshire.
Det Supt Forber said: "Tragically Ryan had just celebrated his fourth birthday. As you can imagine, his family are absolutely devastated by what has happened and they are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers."
Detectives are in the process of speaking to witnesses and forensic examinations and house-to-house inquiries were ongoing, he added.
"We are currently building up a picture as to what happened to Ryan in the last moments of his life," Det Supt Forber said.
"It's absolutely tragic that a four-year-old boy has died in such circumstances and we would appeal to anyone who may have information as to what happened to contact us."
Ryan Hawkins was discovered yesterday afternoon with multiple stab wounds after a visit to his father, who neighbours said had recently split from his wife.
His daughter Donna fled the house and was found lying in the street with about a dozen stab wounds. She was screaming that her brother was going to be killed.
Mr Hawkins, 47, was seen drinking in the nearby Silent Woman pub before he was one of two men arrested.
Armed police were called to the scene and he was stopped by officers 15-20 minutes after his children were found. It is understood that Mr Hawkins was arrested without a struggle.
The Yorkshire Post understands that Donna, who had gone to pick up her brother, managed to call emergency services from the house.
The brave teenager was last night in a serious but stable condition in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary after undergoing surgery.
A post-mortem examination was being carried out on Ryan who died a short time after arriving at the hospital.
Last night police said two men remained in custody on suspicion of murder and attempt murder.
The children's great-uncle George Fellows said the family were "devastated" by the attack. "We're a close family and we're devastated. We just can't believe it," he said.
He added that the children's mother was receiving counselling.
Neighbours told how they ran inside to get towels to stem the blood when they found Donna outside, while others used the clothes they were wearing.
Waqar Zaman, 34, owner of nearby Hill Top Stores, said: "She was in a pool of blood. I saw all the wounds on her and she looked like she had been stabbed 12 times.
"She had a stab wound on her face which went straight through her mouth. She had stab wounds in her stomach just under her rib cage, all over the place. Her right arm was completely broken. She couldn't breathe. She was complaining she couldn't breathe, that she was going to die."
Another neighbour added: "She was screaming for help. When two people went to help, she apparently told them she wasn't going to pull through and her brother was going to be killed.
"I understand that her brother was still alive when she arrived at the house."
Jez Pierce, 39, who was in the Silent Woman when Mr Hawkins walked in, said he ordered a pint and then sat with another man, but looked pale and washed out.
"After a while Chris said: 'I think we should go for a wander', so they supped up and went out.
"I have known Chris since we were kids, we used to work together. I just can't believe what has happened, it's usually a quiet place. Chris is a sound man, very sociable. I saw him last week and he was fine, we were in the pub having a laugh."
The children's mother lives nearby on Hill Top Fold. In the garden a small blue bicycle had last night been left leaning against the wall.
A large part of Slaithwaite was cordoned off while police conducted their investigations A white tent could be seen outside one of the stone houses on Royd Street and residents in neighbouring houses were not allowed out of their properties.
The pub and a taxi company near where Mr Hawkins was arrested were also taped off as was a funeral home.
Coun Margaret Fearnley, Kirk-lees Council ward member for Colne Valley, said the family were very well known in the local community. "This affects the village immensely because it's not something you expect to happen," she added.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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