Man remanded on murder charges after pair found dead in Huddersfield

Marcus Osbourn appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with the murder of Katie Higton and Steven Harnett.

A police cordon on Harpe Inge, Huddersfield (Katie Dickinson/PA) (PA Wire)

A man has appeared in court accused of murdering two people who were found dead at a house in Huddersfield.

Marcus Osbourne, 34, of Harpe Inge, Dalton, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with the murders of Katie Higton, 27, and Steven Harnett, 25.

Ms Higton and Mr Harnett were found dead at her house on Monday.

Osbourne appeared in the dock with one security officer for the three-minute hearing.

Dressed in a grey, long-sleeved T-shirt and matching jogging bottoms, and with short black hair and a moustache, the defendant spoke to confirm his name and give his address and date of birth.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.

Osbourne is charged with two counts of murder as well as false imprisonment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to another woman.

West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the address at 9.53am on Monday after paramedics found two people with multiple injuries believed to have been inflicted by a bladed weapon.

They were confirmed to have died at the scene.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had received a mandatory referral and was assessing the situation.

A spokesman said: “We have received a mandatory referral from West Yorkshire Police linked to the suspected murder of two people in Huddersfield.

“This is due to the fact officers had contact with both victims, and a man who has since been arrested on suspicion of murder, in the days prior to this tragic incident.

“We will now assess the available information to determine what further action may be required.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by these events.”

On Tuesday, the former brother-in-law and sister-in-law of Ms Higton paid tribute to her as “the best mum” and said the family was “absolutely devastated” as they placed flowers on behalf of her two eldest children at the scene.

Her former brother-in-law, who asked not to be named, said his brother had been in a relationship with mother-of-four Ms Higton for seven years and was the father of her two eldest children, daughters aged nine and 10.

He told the PA news agency the children “were in the property when the incident took place”.

He described Ms Higton as “bubbly, outgoing, fun” and “a great mum”.