‘Cannibal attack’ victim named

The 22-year-old died from her injuries at Sirhowy Arms Hotel, a homeless hostel in Argoed, Blackwood, South Wales.

Officers from Gwent Police were called at 1.23am yesterday after reports of a man carrying out a horrific attack on a woman.

A 50,000-volt Taser was discharged, and a 34-year-old local man was arrested.

While under arrest, he became unresponsive and officers and paramedics administered first aid. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gwent Police said they are treating Miss Yemm’s death as murder and are not looking for anyone else and that her family are being supported by specialist officers.

But while the force has refused to comment on the specifics of the incident, sources confirmed she had received substantial facial injuries.

As well as the murder investigation, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) watchdog has launched its 
own probe following the man’s death.

A police spokesman said: “The murder investigation is continuing today, officers and crime scene investigators remain at the scene. To confirm, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

“We are co-operating fully with the IPCC, which is independently investigating the death of the man. At this time our thoughts are with the families of the deceased following this extremely tragic incident.

“Our officers who attended the incident yesterday are being fully supported by our force occupational health department.”

The post-mortem examination for Miss Yemm was due to start yesterday, although may not be complete for some time.

Ms Yemm, who worked in sales at Next, was described as a fun-loving girl who had been at a Halloween party with friends just days before the attack.

It is believed she met her attacker –who has been named locally as 34-year-old Blackwood man Matthew Williams – through mutual friends.

Friends of Ms Yemm as well as locals expressed their shock at the news.

Gareth Griffiths, who lives in Argoed, said: “We hear on the news that it has been cannibalism.

“Nobody wants to hear that, it must be a horrific way to die, it’s horrible, it’s unbearable.”

A friend of Ms Yemm, who did not want to be named, added: “I feel stunned, shocked and sick to my stomach. It’s horrific.

“She was a lovely person. 
She didn’t deserve to die like that.”

The IPCC said it was conducting its own inquiry into how officers responded to the incident.

An IPCC spokeswoman said: “The IPCC is independently investigating an incident overnight in Blackwood in which a man and a woman have died.

“Gwent Police referred the incident to the IPCC early this morning.”

Gwent Police said they would not comment on reports that the pair were in a relationship.