A MAN has appeared in court charged with murder after a woman was found dead and a man was seriously injured.

Police officers and paramedics rushed to Pines Road in Chelmsford at 1.30am on Sunday morning after reports that a man being assaulted inside a house.

Units attended to find a woman had died and a man, in his 50s, with serious life- threatening injuries.

The injured man is currently at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

Police have yet to formally identify the couple they have been named locally as Victor and Colleen Westlake.

On Monday, Craig Bird, aged 31, of no fixed abode, was charged with the murder of Colleen Westlake, aged 48, and the attempted murder of a 59-year-old man.

He was remanded in custody and appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court this morning.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court tomorrow. 

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