Stabbing victim named as former local shopkeeper, as murder inquiry continues

Police were called to Burdock Close, Wymondham, on Saturday night after 67-year-old Kumarathas Rajasingam was stabbed to death. Photo: East Anglia News Service (Image: Archant)

Police were called to Burdock Close in the town at around 11.50pm on Saturday after concerns for the safety of an occupant were raised.

Kumarathas Rajasingam, who used to own the nearby Spar supermarket on Blackthorn Road, was found with serious stab wounds to his chest and head and died on Sunday morning at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

A murder inquiry is underway and a woman in her 50s from the Wymondham are, believed to be his wife Jeyamalar, remains in custody on suspicion of murder.

Acting detective Inspector Neil Stewart, from the Joint Major Investigation Team (JMIT), said officers were continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Rajasingam's death.

Jeyamalar Rajasingam who has appeard in court charged with the murder of her husband. Photo: Submitted (Image: Archant)

He said: 'Detectives are still undertaking a number of enquiries as part of the investigation as we try to understand what led up to the incident. In addition, reassurance patrols will be taking place in the local area with a cordon remaining in place at the property itself.'

Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with Mr Rajasingam's death.

A Home Office post mortem examination carried out on Sunday determined the likely cause of death was multiple organ failure arising from stab wounds.

Neighbours told of their shock at the death and described Mr and Mrs Rajasingam as a 'pleasant' couple.

Police at the scene of the incident in Burdock Close at Wymondham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Burdock Close neighbour Julie Pett, 50, said: 'It's a really shocking thing to have happened. I didn't know the couple really but I would see them about. They used to park their car just outside here. I would sometimes see them doing their shopping at Asda and say hello. I have lived here seven years and they ran the local shop when I first moved on. They always seemed pleasant.'

Haydar Bozkina, 23, a sales assistant at Wymondham Food & Wine, said: 'I never saw the man in here but the woman has come in four or five times while I have worked here. She said that they used to own the shop. The last time was three days ago when she came in with her disabled son. She bought two bottles of vodka. She never bought any food just alcohol. She is an older woman so I always thought it was strange that she bought alcohol. It's really shocking what has happened. I was really surprised when I heard.'

Beth Parker, 36, who was walking her dog past the house where a single police car remains parked outside, said: 'It's a tragic and awful thing. It's pretty disturbing that it has happened around here. I didn't know the people involved. This area is generally pretty quiet. You get a mix of people and I suppose you never know what problems people have, but you never expect anything like this to happen.'

A woman in her early 40s, who moved to the area two weeks ago, said six police cars and an ambulance arrived at the scene late on Saturday night and remained there throughout the early hours of Sunday.

Police at the scene of the incident in Burdock Close at Wymondham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Yesterday, officers guarded the front door of the house.

'We just saw blue lights flashing through our door,' the woman said. 'We saw people running in all directions and thought someone had maybe been attacked.

'It is not nice especially when you have just moved somewhere you think is a nice area.'

Another neighbour, 45, said: 'There were police cars parked all around the square and all the police were running towards the house over there.

Police at the scene of the incident in Burdock Close at Wymondham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

'They were only here for about half an hour.

'She was led across the square in handcuffs and put in a police car just outside our house.

'It was 15 to 20 minutes before they brought a trolley to the outside of the ambulance and brought him out and they were giving him CPR.'

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information concerning it is asked to contact Norwich CID on 101.

Police at the scene of the incident in Burdock Close at Wymondham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A police car outside the house on Burdock Close, Wymondham, where Kumarathas Rajasingam was stabbed to death. Photo: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

A police car outside the house on Burdock Close, Wymondham, where Kumarathas Rajasingam was stabbed to death. Photo: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)

The house on Burdock Close, Wymondham, where Kumarathas Rajasingam was stabbed to death. Photo: Victoria Pertusa (Image: Archant)