A TRAIL OF BLOOD; DOUBLE AXE MURDER.

Byline: TOM PARRY; JOSH LAYTON

A MUM and son were hacked to death yesterday when an ex-lover allegedly burst into their home wielding an axe.

Police found Sally Anne Cox, 43, and 21-yearold Martin Faulkner in a pool of blood after the horrific attack.

Her eldest daughter Amy, 19, was badly injured but managed to flee the carnage in Banbury, Oxon. Her sister Kelly, 13, was unharmed.

Detectives said the mayhem showed Sally and Martin must have put up a fierce struggle as they were being hacked to death.

Their blood-curdling screams woke neighbours. And in a tragic twist, it emerged Martin was only visiting his mum for a night when the killer burst in wielding with what is thought to have been an axe.

A police source said: "It was an awful scene inside that property. The trail of blood went through the house, from the bedroom where it had happened and down the hallway. There was blood absolutely everywhere.

"You could tell by the blood on the floor and walls that they had tried to escape.

"They had obviously fought tooth and nail for their lives and tried to crawl to safety.

"The anger in the house still lingered in the air. The ferociousness and brutality left everyone at the scene in a state of shock.

"The neighbours were awoken by terrible screams in the early hours of the morning. No one could have not heard it.

"There were two people obviously dead or very close to death at the scene.

"Many of the officers have never witnessed anything quite as grim as this. It will stay with them for a long time.

"Even the most hardened officers, some of whom with over 20 years experience, were left distraught by what they saw. This is a traumatic and horrific incident."

Mum-of-three Sally and Martin died at the scene. Their blood-soaked bodies were found at 6.45am. Amy fled after she crawled to a window ledge and alerted neighbours. Kelly was left "extremely traumatised" by the attack in Banbury, Oxon.

Warehouse worker Sally's ex, identified by locals as 43-year-old Michael Kelly, was arrested hours later in Swindon, Wilts. It is believed the pair split months ago after a brief and stormy relationship. Police are not looking for anyone else.

Detective Inspector Steve Duffy of Thames Valley Police said: "There is background to this, it is not a random attack.

"It is tragic but the wider community are not at risk.

"We cannot confirm the exact nature of the injuries, but we can confirm that some kind of weapon was used during the attack."

The officer said the two survivors will be interviewed today if they are both up to it. Mr Duffy said: "They have obviously been through a horrific ordeal this morning."

Neighbours told of their shock at the murders. Taxi driver Zak Mohammed said: "I gave her lifts to work. I'm shocked, you don't expect this. She had split with her boyfriend about a month ago.

"She mentioned he moved back to Swindon, they'd only been here five or six months, I think. They seemed really nice, quite chatty and friendly.

"She didn't go out much but said it was because of the cold weather. She worked as a packer in a warehouse. I only gave her a lift to work a week and a half ago. One of the daughters jumped out of the window on to a ledge to escape and she went over to the house opposite."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, added: "All we have heard is there's been a murder and that an axe was involved.

"I know the house but I don't know who lives there. We can't get up there because the police are blocking it. They've stopped the cars going up and down. It's a very quiet street really.

"I never hear of any trouble here."

Police were last night combing the house in Mold Crescent and surrounding area for clues. More than 40 officers were working on the investigation.

Ten uniformed cops remained at the scene, along with five detectives and a number of forensic investigators.

The end-terrace house remained cordoned off, and a stretch of the road was closed to traffic and pedestrians.

Officers were also present at a second house in Mold Crescent, opposite the scene of the attack. Last night, the victims had not been formally identified.

Postmortems will be held later today.

Mr Duffy said police had received no previous calls to the address regarding domestic incidents. He revealed the family lived in the house for about a year.

Sally, originally from Stratfordupon-Avon, Warks, married Kevin Faulkner, the father of her three children, in 1986.

After splitting from him she married Anthony Cox in July 2004. They lived in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Sally's mum Susan Slowther wrote on Friends Reunited she has "3 kids and 3 grand kids".

Martin had been living in Milton Keynes with Kevin and step-mum Michelle and was only passing through Banbury on a brief visit to Sally's home when tragedy struck.

CAPTION(S):

HUNT JOfficers search murder house ARREST Michael Kelly had a short affair with murdered mum Sally DAUGHTER Amy, 19, was badly hurt but she escaped out of window CARNAGE Forensic officers at the Banbury house yesterday

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Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Dec 14, 2010
Words:	883
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