A 62-year-old man was last night charged with the murder of a Rawdon woman.

John Butler, of Larkfield Road, Rawdon, will appear before Leeds Magistrates this morning charged with the murder of Pauline Butler.

Miss Butler, 61, was found dead on Monday morning at a modern terraced home on Cherry Lea Court, Rawdon, with what police believe were knife wounds to her chest and back.
 

Neighbours were shaken and upset yesterday, but were unwilling to say anything about the tragedy. The scene was cordoned off by police while forensic officers carried out investigations in the modern terraced house, where the blinds were drawn.
 

The house is one of a small number of homes with neat and tidy gardens set around a cobbled area.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Steve Snow said: "A forensic post mortem was carried out this morning which established that the woman, who has been identified as Pauline Butler, 61, died of blood loss having sustained a number of stab wounds."

Neighbours at the tiny cul-de-sac where the death happened were visibly shaken and upset this afternoon, but were unwilling to say anything about the tragedy.
The scene was cordoned off by police while forensic officers carried out investigations in the modern terraced house, where the blinds were drawn.
The house is one of a small number of homes with neat and tidy gardens set around a cobbled area.

Leeds City Councillor Graham Latty (Cons, Guiseley and Rawdon) said: "“I am really shocked by this tragic news. Cherry Lea Court is a small, tranquil enclave occupied mostly by retired people. It was originally built for people over 55 and as far as I know that  is still the case and most people there are pensioners
"It is the last place I’d expect something like this to happen; it’s just not where murders happen.
"I really am flabbergasted, as I said it is a haven and the close knit community will be in shock.
"As councillors we rarely have to call there, we’ve had the odd planning problem but mostly we call when we are delivering leaflets in the spring and a summer; then there have sometimes been residents sitting outside enjoying the sun.”