Police were in contact with a man and a woman who were victims of a suspected double murder in the days before their deaths, a watchdog has confirmed.
Katie Higton, 27, and Steven Harnett, 25, were killed in a suspected knife attack at Higton’s house in the Dalton area of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, between Sunday and Monday.
A 34-year-old man arrested afterwards, Marcus Osbourne of Dalton, has been charged with their murder and is due to appear before magistrates on Wednesday.
He was also charged with assaulting and detaining a second woman against her will in the property on the night the murders took place, West Yorkshire police said.
Officers were called to the address on Harpe Inge at 9.53am on Monday after paramedics found two people with injuries believed to have been inflicted by a bladed weapon. They were confirmed to have died at the scene.
On Wednesday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had received a mandatory referral about the case and was still assessing the situation.
A spokesperson 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.”
Police said inquiries into the case by the force’s homicide and major inquiry team were continuing.
On Tuesday the former brother- and sister-in-law of Higton, who had four children, 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 Higton for seven years and was the father of her two oldest children, daughters aged nine and 10.
He told the PA news agency the children “were in the property when the incident took place”.
The man described Higton as “bubbly, outgoing, fun” and “a great mum”.
A card left with flowers at the scene said: “RIP my darling. We love you. No more suffering.”
