Murder investigation launched in Reading as police name victim

Thames Valley Police have officially launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead with head injuries at a property in Reading.Officers were called to a flat in Laud Close at about 4.30pm on Friday, April 30.

The death was initially treated as unexplained while officers worked to establish the exact circumstances, but following a post mortem which took place on Sunday, a murder investigation has now formally begun.

The post mortem gave the cause of death as blunt force head injury.

Although formal identification has not yet taken place, officers are satisfied that the woman is Beth Aspey, aged 34.

Her family are being supported by specially trained officers and they ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.

A 44-year-old man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder and he remains in police custody.

A witness said: "We were here on Friday and suddenly all hell broke loose. There were ambulances and police cars everywhere."We don’t know much about what’s happened but I can see parts of the flats are shut off."It’s a close knit community round here, people keep themselves to themselves."Nearby resident Paul Reid said: "I only know the woman as someone you’d see. But the police were here knocking on doors and asking questions."We’ve lived here 20 years and there’s not ever been anything like this. It’s usually really quiet."Thames Valley Police said there would be an increased police presence in the area as it continues its investigation.Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Dejan Avramovic, of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said:

“I understand that this will cause some concern in the community, however, I would like to take this opportunity to reassure people that this is an isolated incident and that a man has been arrested in connection with it.

“Members of the public will have seen an increased police presence in the area since Friday and this will remain in place while our investigation continues.

If you have any questions or concerns at all, please feel free to approach our officers."

A post-mortem examination will now be carried out on the woman's bodybefore a file is passed to the coroner.