Woman murdered and suspect dies after Taser incident with police

Police were called to Blackwood, South Wales, where a man was reportedly attacking the woman

A woman has been murdered and a man has died in custody in South Wales (Benjamin Wright/PA Wire)

A man and woman have both died after police were called to deal with reports of an assault at a hostel South Wales, and a Taser gun was used on the suspect.

Officers arrived at the former Sirhowy Arms Hotel in Argoed, Blackwood, at 1:23 on Thursday morning, and used a Taser on the 34-year-old man. He was arrested but later died in custody at the scene.

Gwent police said the 22-year-old woman was found with injuries and later died at the scene. Her death is being treated as a murder.

Gwent police said in a statement: “A Taser was discharged and a man was arrested.

A general view of the rear of the Sirhowy Arms Hotel (Benjamin Wright/PA Wire)

“Whilst under arrest, the man became unresponsive. Officers and paramedics administered first aid but he has since been pronounced deceased.”

Police said the man and woman were known to each other but are unable to confirm the nature of the relationship. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and that an investigation is underway.

Gwent police referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) early on Thursday morning.

The IPCC said it is independently investigating an “incident overnight in Blackwood in which a man and woman have died”.

The Sirhowy Arms Hotel is used by the Caerphilly county borough council as a hostel providing temporary placement for single homeless people, the South Wales Argus reports.

One resident told the paper that the village didn’t want the hostel set up in the area, and that “the police are here all the time”.

But a neighbour who lives next to the hostel said the people staying there “don’t cause trouble as such, they are never disrespectful,” adding that police vans are sometimes in the area but that “it’s a very quiet street”.