A man has been charged with the murder of his mother, after she was found seriously injured inside the building where he lives.
Sebastian Compton, 47, was charged over the weekend after the death of Michele Romano, 68, on Friday.
Essex police said they were called at about 2.30pm on Friday to reports of “a suspicious male” near Compton’s home.
An Essex police spokesperson said: “Officers quickly attended and after engaging with the man attended an address in Readers Court where they found a seriously injured woman inside a property.
“Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the woman in her 60s was, sadly, pronounced dead at the scene.”
Compton was arrested on suspicion of her murder on Friday and charged on Sunday. He was taken to appear at Chelmsford magistrates court on Monday but was not brought into the courtroom, the Daily Mail reported.
The deputy district judge Sarah Hannah said she had the power to deal with the case in his absence and remanded him in custody to appear via video link before Chelmsford crown court on Wednesday.
Compton is also charged with the assault by beating of a police constable in Chelmsford on Saturday.
No pleas to the charges were entered and the court heard it did not have any power to deal with any application for bail.
Romano is believed to have worked as a carer and in a charity shop, and is thought to have lived in Chelmsford with her husband of 25 years, Thierry Romano, known as Gingi.
Thierry Romano has since changed his Facebook profile picture to black and posted a picture of him and his wife together.
Friends have left messages of support, with one posting: “So sorry to hear your bad news Gingi, we send love.”
DCS Rob Kirby of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate said: “I know that this will cause this quiet community great concern and fully understand they will have questions about what has happened, but I would ask that people don’t speculate.
“We are working to establish the facts leading up to the woman’s death and we will remain at the scene whilst we carry out our enquiries.
“I would like to reassure the community that we will be conducting high-visibility patrols in the Great Baddow area for several days. And whilst officers are at the scene, please feel free to approach them and they will listen to your concerns.
“I’d ask anyone who has information or footage of any part of the incident, particularly in the areas of Readers Court and Dorset Avenue that could help our investigation, to get in contact.”
