Allerton Bywater: How triple tragedy shattered a peaceful community

Most people were at work or school when news started to break that a woman and two children had apparently been murdered inside one of the unremarkable red brick properties in this neighbourhood.

To anyone returning home at the end of the day, the presence of numerous police officers, vehicles and a significant cordon made it clear that a serious incident had taken place.

Scenes of crime officers wearing masks could be seen entering and leaving through the red front door of the mid-terrace property as a large group of plain-clothes officers held discussions in the street.

Smiling face of Geraldine Newman, mum who died with her children at their Leeds home

Allerton Bywater murders: Mother and children were bludgeoned and stabbed to death

Allerton Bywater murders: Silence for Leeds mother and two children

It is thought the bodies of a woman – named locally as Geraldine Newman – and her two children, 12-year-old Shannon and Shane, aged six, may have lain undiscovered since at least the previous day.

Ms Newman’s body was found downstairs, while the bodies of the children were discovered on the first floor.

Chloe Firth, 11, who is a friend of Shannon, said: “She was really bubbly and laughed a lot and was very kind to everyone else.

“I just can’t believe it. You don’t expect something like this to happen.”

Chloe’s father Sean, 44, added: “What can you say? It’s devastating.

“You don’t think anything like this could happen around here. It’s very quiet. People keep themselves to themselves.”

Work on the Millenium Village estate started in 2000 and it has become popular with families, with a playground situated at one end of the estate. More houses are being built.

It is thought Wilko shop manager Ms Newman and her family had been in their property for about five years.

A woman who lives on Warren House Road, which backs on to Beeston Way, said: “We are just really shocked and sad.

“You just don’t know what’s happening on your doorstep. The kiddies used to play outside on their scooters.”

She said she saw police arrive at the house at about 11.30am and added: “They kept themselves to themselves. I think they must have been here for about five years.

“I remember seeing them around for as long as I’ve lived here. I’m absolutely shocked and really sad.”

It is thought police had been called on at least one previous occasion to the Beeston Way property following reports of a domestic disturbance.

In an initial statement yesterday, Detective Chief Inspector Warren Stevenson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team said that initial indications suggested the killings were “a domestic-related incident”.

He added: “We are carrying out a full and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths and are conducting extensive enquiries.

“We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed anything in the area of the address in the period leading up to when the discovery was made.”

Following yesterday’s incident, detectives were thought to be looking for Ms Newman’s estranged husband, Paul, who is believed to have moved to Normanton near Castleford.

West Yorkshire Police were later notified of the discovery of a man’s body in Wales, which they said could be linked to their inquiries.

They were in contact with North Wales Police, who were working to formally identify the body.