Tributes to Bradford couple found dead at their home after '˜devastating' domestic attack

Police were called to the property in Idle, Bradford, on Sunday, and found a 38-year-old woman with serious injuries to her neck and a 37-year-old man with serious injuries to his leg.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene and two knives were recovered from the property, West Yorkshire Police said.

A spokesman said officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Police named the couple as Tony Roberts and Guida Rufino, the parents of a two-year-old girl, who was not in the house at the time of the incident.

Staff at Wesley House Nursery, where the young girl attended, were said to be “shocked” by the news.

Andrew Clifford, director of First Class Childcare, which owns the nursery, said: “It’s pretty devastating for the staff as they have worked with that family very closely. They’re very shocked. It’s very sad news.”

He added: “We have been told that the girl wasn’t in the property at the time. I’m glad to hear that she wasn’t caught up in anything, as much as she’s going to have some very sad news to deal with.

“Our sympathies lie with the family at this time.”

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Scott said: “The police investigation is still at an early stage; however, we are treating this as a murder inquiry.

“A full post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death for both Ms Rufino and Mr Roberts.

“At this stage we are satisfied that no other parties were involved in the incident.”

Police found Ms Rufino with serious injuries to her neck and Mr Roberts with serious injuries to his leg.

Ms Rofino set up Leeds Occupational Health Limited in 2005 with her business partner, Dr Jacqueline Senior. She worked as the business director, whilst Dr Senior was the medical director.

Dr Senior said her friend was a devoted mother.

“Guida and I had worked together for many years. We first met when we worked at Interact Health here in Leeds in 2002,” she said.

“That company went into administration in January 2005, we saw the opportunity to start our own company and Leeds Occupational Health Limited started trading on April 1, 2015.

“She always wanted a child and gave birth to a beautiful daughter in 2013 to whom she was devoted.

“She returned from maternity leave invigorated and inspired to grow our business and we both looked forward to an exciting 2016.

“We are all devastated, Dr Paul Davies my other business partner and all our employees send sincere condolences to her family.”

Hayley Wright, manager of Wesley House Nursery where the couple’s daughter attended, said there was never an inkling that anything was wrong in the couple’s relationship.

She confirmed Anthony - known as Tony - was a teacher.

She said rang the parents’ mobile phones this morning after news of the incident broke.

“There was no answer,” she said. “I cried and was in shock. I still do not believe it.”

Ms Wright said Guida, who was believed to be Portuguese, was “lovely” and “really chatty”.

She said Anthony was also really chatty and used to stay at the nursery talking to staff when he picked his daughter up.

“I offered to babysit for them if they ever wanted a date night,” said Ms Wright.

She added: “We feel shocked and devastated and in disbelief. Everyone burst out crying.”

Andrew Clifford, the director of First Class Childcare, which owns the nursery the couple’s daughter attended, said: “It’s pretty devastating for the staff as they have worked with that family very closely. They’re very shocked. It’s very sad news.”

He added: “We have been told that the girl wasn’t in the property at the time. I’m glad to hear that she wasn’t caught up in anything, as much as she’s going to have some very sad news to deal with.”

Today, two police officers stood in front of the front and back entrances to the stone-brick detached house.

Neighbours said they were “heartbroken” by the death of the couple.

Jean Nutter said: “At around half six last night the whole street lit up with the lights of police cars’ headlights and the blue lights. There were loads of them, all around.

“Then the forensics appeared and started searching the house.

“I’m heartbroken they are both dead and the baby’s life will change completely and I am very sad about it.

“I think used to work away quite a bit and she was on her own a lot but there has been another young lady that has been staying there that I think was a friend of hers.”

Another neighbour, who didn’t wish to give his name said: “I didn’t really know much about them. They had been living there for about four years and I would see them coming in and out.

“I knew their names and that they had a baby who was about two, but apart from that I didn’t see much of them.”