Video: Town left in shock at brutal killing of pensioner

The murder of Carol Berry, a 66-year-old mother-of-four, comes just weeks after shopkeeper Gurmail Singh was killed a few miles away.

Ms Berry was knifed at her semi-detached bungalow in the Bradley area of Huddersfield at 6.40pm on Friday by Sebastian Mercante, the former husband of her daughter, Claire Tootill.

He also attacked her son, Andrew Field, before fleeing.

The 40-year-old attacker then drove off to a multi-storey car park in Hanover Street, central Manchester, where he jumped from the eighth floor soon after midnight.

An obscene message directed at his former partner was written in blood on a wall.

A police source said: "The killer broke up with Claire some time ago and he did not take it well. It is not known if the woman who died was the intended victim but she might well have been."

Police believe no-one else was involved in what they described as a "targeted" and "domestic-related" attack.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Detectives investigating the murder of a woman in Huddersfield have confirmed they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the inquiry after a man was found dead in Manchester.''

The killer was not thought to have lived in the Yorkshire region and a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were liaising with Greater Manchester Police, who do not believe there were any suspious circumstances surrounding Mercante's fall from the roof.

Mr Field remained in hospital last night, where his injuries were said not to be life-threatening.

It remained unclear last night where Claire Tootill had been at the time her relatives were attacked, but a West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed she was now getting help from specially-trained officers.

Michael Hunt, 46, an RAC man, said his son found a knife close to the scene.

He said: "It had a blade about six inches long. The police came down and then cordoned everything off and it has been closed all night.

"He was shocked, obviously, but he was glad he had been able to do something.

"He watches CSI so he knew not to touch the knife."

Next-door neighbour Ron Thomas, 65, said: "I saw ambulances arriving at the house on Friday night and a lad being led out with a pad at the back of his neck before he was treated in the ambulance."

Local councillor Jean Calvert said: "This is another dreadful incident. The other murder only happened a couple of miles away.

"I am quite shocked this could happen here."

She said Bradley Road was a busy route for drivers trying to get on to the M62, but remained "a very nice area".

Her colleague, Cath Harris, added: ''The Huddersfield North Neighbourhood Inspector Mohammed Rauf has kept ward councillors informed regarding this and it is a very sad event for all the individuals concerned and their wider families.

''At this stage the police investigation is continuing so I do not think it is appropriate to comment further.''

The vicar of Bradley for the past 21 years, David Ward, said he had been able to reassure the congregation yesterday, that the police were in control of the situation.

He said: "St Thomas's Church is only 200 yards from where this tragic event took place and one or two of our more nervous members were understandably apprehensive, especially as some of them live quite close to the scene.

"They needed to know that there was not someone out of control and I was able to reassure them to that effect.''