A father ‘slit the throats of his wife and teenage daughter’ before neighbours tackled him to the ground as he tried to flee the scene, it is alleged.
Police were called to a disturbance shortly before 3pm on Monday after locals reported terrified screams from a house in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Neighbours say Marcin Zdun, a night packing worker at Tesco, ‘attacked his wife and daughter before fleeing.’
The body of 18-year-old Nikoleta Zdun was found at the property while Marcin’s wife Aneta Zdun, 40, was found alive but died a short time later.
Horrified witnesses claim two little girls fled the house, allegedly telling a neighbour, ‘Mummy isn’t very well. She’s been cut.’
The body of 18-year-old Nikoleta Zdun (left) was found at the property in Salisbury. Marcin’s wife Aneta Zdun, 40, (right) was found alive but died a short time later.
Neighbours claim the man, named locally as Tesco night filler Marcin Zdun, ‘attacked his wife and daughter before fleeing’
Officers attended the scene on Wessex Road and found the body of one woman, with another woman found seriously injured. Pictured, the scene today
The murder of teenager Nikoleta Zdun (left) and Aneta Zdun (right) has sent shockwaves through the community in Salisbury
Neighbours say Marcin Zdun, a night packing worker at Tesco, ‘attacked his wife and daughter before fleeing’
Residents living nearby today described how brave locals chased down the suspect and tackled him after the double killing unfolded on their ‘quiet’ street in the historic cathedral town.
It was claimed two ‘big’ builders chased down and ‘flattened’ Zdun, who had not been living at home for a couple of months, but returned last week.
Wiltshire Police say a 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Amanda Barlow, a mother-of-three, who lives close to the scene said she heard ‘horrific child-like screaming’.
Ms Barlow, 40, said: ‘I heard it was a man who has killed his wife and another younger woman.
‘A neighbour who lives across the road took the children into his house to look after them because they apparently saw what had happened. The other two children are much younger. It’s all such a shock.’
The attack is thought to have been launched inside the house, as Zdun’s child said ‘daddy asked them to go into the bathroom’, according to neighbours.
One neighbour, who works at the nearby Tesco superstore, said when she was interviewed by police there ‘seemed to be a suggestion’ Zdun had split with his wife.
The Polish Zdun family are understood to have been living in Salisbury for around four years, and are believed to be originally from Tarnow, Poland.
Neighbours Nick and Jan Maher rushed and took the little girls into their home to keep them safe, ordering pizza and letting them watch cartoons.
Mr Maher, 59, who owns his own catering company, said: ‘There was some noise and I thought it was kids playing… but it got louder, dramatically louder.
‘I thought they were having a fight at first but someone shouted “they’ve been stabbed, call the police”.’
‘So I went out and my wife and I grabbed the two children to put them in our house and keep them safe. One of our neighbours came up the hill very out of breath and said, “We’ve caught him, just down the road”.’
His wife, 62, added: ‘The kids were screaming so I said, “You come with me,” and the man that brought them out of the house said, “He’s cut her throat”.
‘The kids were screaming and crying as I was walking them back, they were saying, “He’s cut mummy, he’s cut mummy, he’s cut mummy”.’
Mr Maher added: ‘We had the children in here and kept them entertained. In passing, the seven-year-old said, “Mummy isn’t very well because [someone] was stabbing her in the throat, but she should be alright by Friday”… it’s just bloody awful.
Aneta Zdun was found alive at the property in Salisbury, but died a short time later
The teenage daughter has been named by residents of Salisbury, Wilts, as Nikoleta Zdun
Forensic officers at the property in Salisbury, Wiltshire this afternoon
Floral tributes have been left at the scene by heartbroken friends and neighbours
Neighbours today described how brave locals chased down the suspect and tackled him after the double killing unfolded on their ‘quiet’ street in the historic cathedral town. Pictured, police at the scene today
Horrified neighbours chased after the suspect after Aneta Zdun, left, and Nikoleta (Niki) Zdun, right, died at the scene
Neighbour Gary Smith, a retired Army veteran, said he had seen ‘some horrific things in combat but never anything like that’.
The 67-year-old, who rushed to help, said: ‘I went round there and in the front garden I could see a woman with her throat cut. It was horrible, I don’t understand how someone could do that.
‘I was in the services so I’ve seen my fair share, but I never saw anything like that.
‘The family were all nice to talk to, very friendly and always said hello. Not ones to have a full conversation, but polite.’
Officers were called to the property on Wessex Road at 2.45pm and found the body of one woman, with another woman found seriously injured.
The second woman was treated by paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service but died shortly afterwards.
The arrested man has been taken into custody at Melksham Police Station.
Forensic officers retrieved what appeared to be a knife from the roof of the house.
Aneta Zdun and her husband Marcin pictured on their wedding day
Locals said two young children fled to safety after yesterday afternoon’s attacks and were then looked after by another neighbour
A force spokesman said: ‘A 39-year-old local man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of murder; he currently remains in custody at Melksham Police Station.
The force also said it was ‘meticulously’ combing through evidence. DCI Darren Hannant, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘The post mortems of both victims are also being undertaken.
‘As soon as the victims have been formally identified, we will be in a position to give a further update.
‘We would like to appeal for anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the Wessex Road area yesterday at around 3pm to come forward and speak to one of us.’