Jack Ralph, 28, has been charged with the double murder of Sharon Harris and her mother Margaret and attempted murder of her husband David
The next door neighbour of a mother and daughter stabbed to death in a leafy village has been charged with their murders.
Jack Ralph, 28, is accused of attacking Sharon Harris, 55, and her mother Margaret, 78, after a noisy row outside their home in Hadlow, Kent.
He has also been charged with the attempted murder of Margaret’s husband David, 76, who was airlifted to hospital after being stabbed during the knife rampage.
Yesterday neighbours told how there had been a long running dispute between the two families over a shared drive.
Neighbours said Ralph had been having a row with a woman, believed to be his ex-girlfriend, outside Mr Harris’ three-bedroom mock Tudor home when the retired mechanic tried to intervene.
Ralph is said to have chased Mr Harris into his home where Sharon and Margaret were then also attacked.
Paramedics rushed to the family’s aid on Saturday morning but Sharon and Margaret were pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Harris last night was in hospital in a stable condition.
Pictures show the murder scene in Hadlow, Kent after Sharon Harris and her mother Margaret were killed and Sharon’s husband David severely injured
Officers and forensic investigators scour the crime scene for evidence in Hadlow today
Michael Maile, who has lived on the quiet, leafy street where the attack took place for 32 years, said a row had broken out over parking, with a space round the side of the Harris house in dispute.
He said: ‘The Harris’ were upset as they used to use the full shared drive.
‘There isn’t a lot of room, you see, and the previous tenants used to allow the Harris’ the whole space.
‘When the new neighbours arrived they demanded the space back. That caused a bit of tension.’
He added: ‘Usually nothing happens here, now we are scared. It’s a scary thing to live near. We knew the Harris family, me and my wife would say ‘hello’ when we saw them.
‘They were quiet, reserved people, and Margaret never left the house. She was frail, no-one has seen her for a year.
‘David was up at 6am every morning when he would move his camper van to let the daughter’s car out.
‘Next door, we don’t know them. They moved in a while back and the man not too long ago.’
Police forensic officers have been carrying out investigations in Hadlow, Kent this weekend. A cordon was in place for much of the day yesterday and today
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: ‘Margaret was a quiet woman – she was never offensive to anyone.
‘We came out and saw a helicopter above. It must have been her husband – It is sickening what went on. There were a dozen police here until 10pm on Saturday night – it’s unheard of.
‘I can’t see how this could have happened. You hear about this going on in London, but not here.’
Flowers and cards were left outside the Harris family home yesterday in tribute to the mother and daughter who died.
Sharon’s colleagues left a card saying: ‘Dearest Sharon and Margaret, rest in peace. Taken too soon.
‘Sharon, we wished each other a good weekend at 4:30 on Friday.
‘I can’t believe I am writing these words, there will be a big gap at work without you. All our love Clare and Danni xxxx’
- Jack Ralph, 28, appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court today accused of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with the incident. He was remanded in custody ahead of a Crown Court appearance later this week.
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