Darfield murder victim named

The woman found dead at her flat in Darfield has been named.

Chantelle Barnsdale-Quean, 35, was found dead by police at her flat on Upperwood Road at about 4.20pm on Monday. A 42-year-old man was also found with stab wounds and taken to hospital as well as arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been discharged from hospital and is being questioned by officers.

The four flats were cordoned off by police as a crime scene and residents have since had to sign in and out with a police officer to enter and leave their homes.

On Tuesday, flowers were left outside the flat by a group of about six tearful mourners, with a solitary bouquet having being left earlier in the day.

The couple were said by neighbours to have moved to the area in November and had two young daughters enrolled at Upperwood Primary School. The girls are believed to be staying with their maternal grandmother in Darfield.

Neighbours John Lacey, 83, and wife Margaret, 81, often had the two girls at their house when they came to play with their grandchildren and said their thoughts were with them at such a trying time.

John said he rarely saw Chantelle and the girls' father did not speak much when he dropped them off and picked them up. He said: "He kept himself to himself and wasn't one for chatting, he would just ask if they were ready and thank us for looking after them. I didn't know him very well but he seemed a nice enough young fella to me.

"When the police told me there had been a murder, I just thought 'I hope it's not one of the girls', because they're such lovely children."

Margaret described the unfolding crime scene across the road. She said: "I saw the ambulance responder come and I thought Margaret in one of the upstairs flats must have been ill. But then all these police cars arrived - I've never seen anything like it in my life - there were so many.

"I got no sleep that night, there was so much activity, and I just kept thinking of those poor little girls who are now facing the possibility of losing both their parents. It's absolutely shocking what's happened. I can't believe it."