Mirfield murder manhunt

The strangled body of Latvian national Nadija Ondzule was found in a house in Oddfellows Street, Mirfield, on Tuesday evening.

Police were called over concerns for the 36-year-old woman’s welfare, and found the body shortly after 6.30pm.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Wednesday.

Detectives have identified a male suspect who they believe has fled the country.

The street was quiet on Wednesday morning with a single police officer guarding the door of number 40, where the grim find was discovered.

Neighbours said they believed a couple lived in the house. Some said they had only lived there for a few months and that they were very private.

Telford Watson said the death had unnerved him. He added: “It’s a shock. I don’t feel comfortable here now. I’ve lived here for 40 years and it’s the first time something like this has happened.”

John Popplewell lives in the house that backs on to number 40, but said he had only met the man who lived there once.

Peter Broadley, who lives in a flat nearby, said: “We knew there was somebody living there but never saw anybody and the next thing we knew there was a police tent up in the garden.

“It’s quiet normally. You don’t expect something like this on your doorstep.”

Damon Auty, who runs the barber’s shop in nearby Nettleton Road, said Ms Ondzule had been into the shop with a man who had his hair cut. He said: “They were together all the time. You couldn’t keep them apart.

“There’s usually no bother round here. It’s usually a quiet, boring street.”

• Call police on 0845 6060606.