Homeless man due in court over knife murder of mum and son, 13
A HOMELESS man will appear in court today charged with murdering a mother and her 13-year-old son in a stabbing frenzy.
A homeless man has been accused of attempting to kill Peter Wilkinson and killing his son Pierce
Aaron Barley, 23, of no fixed abode, is accused of killing Tracey Wilkinson, 50, and her son Pierce and attempting to murder her husband Peter Wilkinson, 47, who is in hospital with stab wounds to his chest and back.
Barley will appear before magistrates in Birmingham over the attack on the family on Thursday morning at their home in Stourbridge, West Midlands.
Aaron Barley is also believed to have killed Peter's wife Tracey in a knife attack
I know they had taken someone in. It was just in their nature. They were just so kind.
Locals yesterday described the Wilkinsons as “Good Samaritans” who had given refuge to a homeless man.
Mrs Wilkinson was pronounced dead inside the £440,000 detached property and Pierce later died in hospital.
Company director Mr Wilkinson, who was found injured in the back garden, remains stable but critically ill.
Aaron will appear in court over the murders of the family which took place at their Stourbridge home
The Wilkinsons’ daughter Lydia, 18 – in the first year of a biology degree at Bristol University – was not at home at the time of the attack.
Last night she was being comforted by relatives. Regulars at the local pub, the New Inn, described the family as “very charitable” and said they had taken in a homeless man in December.
A member of the pub’s staff said Mrs Wilkinson used to work in a rehabilitation centre supporting people with drug and alcohol problems.
Peter Wilkinson remains stable but critically ill in hospital
He said: “I know there was someone living at the house with them. “I know they had taken someone in. It was just in their nature. They were just so kind.”
Well-wishers continued to leave flowers outside the family home. Classmates of Pierce laid tributes on their way to school with their parents.
One message in children’s handwriting on a bouquet said: “To my friend Pierce RIP.” Stephen Dunster, headteacher of Redhill School in Stourbridge, said: “Pierce was a loyal, caring and conscientious pupil, who will be sadly missed by all members of our school community.”